The Bruce Highway is a major highway in
Queensland
)
, nickname = Sunshine State
, image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = Australia
, established_title = Before federation
, establishe ...
, Australia. Commencing in the state capital,
Brisbane
Brisbane ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Queensland, and the third-most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a population of approximately 2.6 million. Brisbane lies at the centre of the South ...
, it passes through areas close to the eastern coast on its way to
Cairns in
Far North Queensland. The route is part of the Australian
National Highway and also part of
Highway 1, the longest highway route in Australia. Its length is approximately ; it is entirely sealed with
bitumen. The highway is named after a popular former Queensland and federal politician,
Harry Bruce. Bruce was the state Minister for Works in the mid-1930s when the highway was named after him. The highway once passed through
Brisbane
Brisbane ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Queensland, and the third-most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a population of approximately 2.6 million. Brisbane lies at the centre of the South ...
, but was truncated at
Bald Hills when the
Gateway Motorway
The Gateway Motorway (M2 to Eight Mile Plains and M1 to Pine River) is a major tolled motorway in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia which includes the Sir Leo Hielscher Bridges (former Gateway Bridge). The motorway is operated by toll road opera ...
became National Highway 1 upon its opening in December 1986.
The highway is the biggest traffic carrier in Queensland. It initially joined all the major coastal centres; however, a number of bypasses, particularly in the south, have diverted traffic around these cities to expedite traffic flow and ease urban congestion. As a result, the highway is constantly being shortened. The road is a
dual carriageway from Brisbane to
Kybong with some dual carriageway lengths at
Gympie
Gympie ( ) is a city and a locality in the Gympie Region, Queensland, Australia. In the Wide Bay-Burnett District, Gympie is about north of the state capital, Brisbane. The city lies on the Mary River, which floods Gympie occasionally. The ...
, many of these upgrades being completed in the 1980s (
Glass House Mountains
The Glass House Mountains are a cluster of thirteen hills that rise abruptly from the coastal plain on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia. The highest hill is Mount Beerwah at 556 metres above sea level, but the most identifiable of a ...
,
Tanawha,
Maryborough) and 1990s (
Nambour
Nambour is a rural town and locality in the Sunshine Coast Region, Queensland, Australia. In the , the locality of Nambour had a population of 11,187 people.
Geography
Nambour is north of the state capital, Brisbane. The town lies in the sub ...
,
Yandina, and
Cooroy
Cooroy is a rural town and locality in the Shire of Noosa, Queensland, Australia. In the the locality of Cooroy had a population of 3,791 people.
Geography
Cooroy is inland from the northern Sunshine Coast hinterland about west of Noosa H ...
).
The highway commences just south of the bridge over the
Pine River at the Gateway Motorway interchange, north of the
Brisbane central business district
Brisbane City is the central suburb and central business district of Brisbane, the state capital of Queensland, Australia. It is colloquially referred to as the "Brisbane CBD" or "the city". It is located on a point on the northern bank of the ...
. The highway has changed its route numbering from National Highway 1 to the M1 (motorway road) or A1 (single carriageway, generally with overtaking lanes).
Major cities along the route include
Gympie
Gympie ( ) is a city and a locality in the Gympie Region, Queensland, Australia. In the Wide Bay-Burnett District, Gympie is about north of the state capital, Brisbane. The city lies on the Mary River, which floods Gympie occasionally. The ...
,
Maryborough,
Rockhampton,
Mackay Mackay may refer to:
*Clan Mackay, the Scottish clan from which the surname "MacKay" derives
Mackay may also refer to:
Places Australia
* Mackay Region, a local government area
** Mackay, Queensland, a city in the above region
*** Mackay Airpor ...
,
Townsville
Townsville is a city on the north-eastern coast of Queensland, Australia. With a population of 180,820 as of June 2018, it is the largest settlement in North Queensland; it is unofficially considered its capital. Estimated resident population, 3 ...
, and
Cairns. The highway passes the
Glasshouse Mountains,
rainforests and pastures in the
Sunshine Coast, the Gunalda Range (north of
Gympie
Gympie ( ) is a city and a locality in the Gympie Region, Queensland, Australia. In the Wide Bay-Burnett District, Gympie is about north of the state capital, Brisbane. The city lies on the Mary River, which floods Gympie occasionally. The ...
),
Mount Larcom (north of
Gladstone), and the arid countryside north of
Rockhampton; after that, it passes through land predominantly used for
sugar cane
Sugarcane or sugar cane is a species of (often hybrid) tall, perennial grass (in the genus '' Saccharum'', tribe Andropogoneae) that is used for sugar production. The plants are 2–6 m (6–20 ft) tall with stout, jointed, fibrous stalk ...
, crop growing and dairy farms and the
sub-tropics and tropics.
Route description
Commencing in
Bald Hills at the junction of the
Gateway Motorway
The Gateway Motorway (M2 to Eight Mile Plains and M1 to Pine River) is a major tolled motorway in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia which includes the Sir Leo Hielscher Bridges (former Gateway Bridge). The motorway is operated by toll road opera ...
and
Gympie Arterial Road, the Bruce Highway is a
motorway
A controlled-access highway is a type of highway that has been designed for high-speed vehicular traffic, with all traffic flow—ingress and egress—regulated. Common English terms are freeway, motorway and expressway. Other similar terms i ...
standard road (signed as the
M1) for its first to
Kybong, where it becomes a two-lane sealed highway for most of its remainder. The first to the Dohles Rocks Road interchange has eight lanes and a
variable
Variable may refer to:
* Variable (computer science), a symbolic name associated with a value and whose associated value may be changed
* Variable (mathematics), a symbol that represents a quantity in a mathematical expression, as used in many ...
(electronically signed) speed limit of up to . The next to the
Caboolture /
Bribie Island interchange has six lanes and a maximum speed limit of . From there to Kybong the road has four lanes and, with one short exception, a speed limit of .
Brisbane to Rockhampton
Bald Hills to Caboolture
This section of the Bruce Highway crosses the
Pine River into the
Moreton Bay Region
The Moreton Bay Region is a local government area in the north of the Brisbane metropolitan city in South East Queensland, Australia. Established in 2008, it replaced three established local government areas, the City of Redcliffe and the Shir ...
, passing through mainly urban areas before crossing the
Caboolture River
The Caboolture River is a small river in South East Queensland, Australia.
Location and features
Formed by runoff from the D'Aguilar Range, the Caboolture River rises below near and flows generally east, joined by two minor tributaries and ...
and reaching the Caboolture / Bribie Island interchange after . It runs past or through
Murrumba Downs
Murrumba Downs is a suburb in Moreton Bay Regional Council, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 Census, Murrumba Downs had a population of 10,795 people.
Geography
Murrumba Downs is located east of Kallangur on the Bruce Highway by road n ...
,
Griffin,
Kallangur,
Mango Hill
Mango Hill is a suburb in the Moreton Bay Region, Queensland, Australia. In the , Mango Hill had a population of 14,921 people.
History
Although locally known by this name since the 1950s, it wasn't until 1 September 1980 that it was formall ...
,
North Lakes
North Lakes is a suburb in the Moreton Bay Region, Queensland, Australia. According to the , North Lakes had a population of 23,030 people.
Geography
The suburb is mostly made up of newly developed housing originally around the North Lakes ...
,
Dakabin,
Narangba
Narangba is a town and suburb of the Moreton Bay Region, Queensland, Australia. It is located 34 km north of Brisbane CBD. This suburb has rural origins, but is being redeveloped as a residential suburb on the outskirts of the greater Bris ...
,
Burpengary and
Morayfield
Morayfield is a town and suburb in the Moreton Bay Region, Queensland, Australia. In the , the suburb of Morayfield had a population of 21,394 people.
Morayfield is by road north of Brisbane CBD, the state capital.
Geography
Morayfield is a ...
. On the way it is crossed by the
Redcliffe Peninsula railway line
The Redcliffe Peninsula line is a 12 km stretch of heavy gauge dual-track railway between Petrie and Kippa-Ring on the Redcliffe peninsula. The new line is part of Queensland Rail's City suburban network, branching from the North ...
and passes the Caboolture BP Travel Centre.
Caboolture to Caloundra
The Caboolture / Bribie Island interchange also provides access to the
D'Aguilar Highway
The D'Aguilar Highway is a two-lane highway linking the Bruce Highway near Caboolture with Kingaroy in the state of Queensland, Australia. Major towns along the route include Woodford, Kilcoy, Blackbutt, Yarraman, Nanango and Kingaroy. The hi ...
via a service road. After the D'Aguilar Highway interchange the Bruce passes through mainly rural areas and the Beerburrum and Beerwah State Forests, entering the
Sunshine Coast Region before reaching the Caloundra Road interchange after a further . It passes the southern entry to
Steve Irwin
Stephen Robert Irwin (22 February 19624 September 2006), known as "The Crocodile Hunter", was an Australian zookeeper, conservationist, television personality, wildlife educator, and environmentalist.
Irwin grew up around crocodiles and ot ...
Way, a bypassed section of the highway, which provides access to
Beerburrum,
Glass House Mountains
The Glass House Mountains are a cluster of thirteen hills that rise abruptly from the coastal plain on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia. The highest hill is Mount Beerwah at 556 metres above sea level, but the most identifiable of a ...
,
Beerwah,
Australia Zoo and
Landsborough before terminating at the Caloundra Road interchange.
The Caloundra Road Interchange is also Australia's first
Diverging diamond interchange
A diverging diamond interchange (DDI), also called a double crossover diamond interchange (DCD), is a subset of diamond interchange in which the opposing directions of travel on the non-freeway road cross each other on either side of the inte ...
.
Caloundra to Noosa
The next to the
Sunshine Motorway interchange, providing access to the
Sunshine Coast, widens to 3 lanes in either direction. It then narrows back to 2 lanes. After another the
Maroochydore Road
Maroochydore Road (state route 8) is a major arterial road on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland that connects the major town/urban centre of Maroochydore with the Bruce Highway.
Route description
Maroochydore Road is a 9.8 km, 4 lane state c ...
interchange provides access to
Maroochydore
Maroochydore ( ) is a coastal town in the Sunshine Coast Region, Queensland, Australia.
The town was subdivided from the Cotton Tree reserve by Surveyor Thomas O'Connor in 1903. The land was acquired from William Pettigrew who had a timber de ...
and
Woombye
Woombye is a town and locality in the Sunshine Coast Region, Queensland, Australia. In the , Woombye had a population of 3,246 people.
Geography
Woombye is located on the Sunshine Coast hinterland in Queensland, Australia, approximately no ...
. The Bli Bli Road interchange, after a further , provides access to
Bli Bli
Bli Bli () is a rural town and locality in the Sunshine Coast Region, Queensland, Australia. In the , Bli Bli had a population of 7,801 people. Geography
A few kilometres inland from the Maroochydore urban area, Bli Bli rises above the wetland ...
and
Nambour
Nambour is a rural town and locality in the Sunshine Coast Region, Queensland, Australia. In the , the locality of Nambour had a population of 11,187 people.
Geography
Nambour is north of the state capital, Brisbane. The town lies in the sub ...
. The Yandina–Coolum Road interchange, after , provides access to
Yandina and
Coolum. The Eumundi interchange, after , provides access to
Eumundi
Eumundi is a rural town and locality in the Sunshine Coast Region, Queensland, Australia. In the , the locality of Eumundi had a population of 2,221 people.
Eumundi is very popular on the coast for its bi-weekly farmers' markets. The marketpla ...
and
Noosa
The Shire of Noosa is a local government area about north of Brisbane in the Sunshine Coast district of South East Queensland, Australia. The shire covers an area of . It existed as a local government entity from 1910 until 2008, when it wa ...
. The Cooroy interchange, after , provides access to
Cooroy
Cooroy is a rural town and locality in the Shire of Noosa, Queensland, Australia. In the the locality of Cooroy had a population of 3,791 people.
Geography
Cooroy is inland from the northern Sunshine Coast hinterland about west of Noosa H ...
,
Tewantin
Tewantin ( ) is a rural town and locality in the Shire of Noosa, Queensland, Australia. In the , Tewantin had a population of 10,920 people. Tewantin was the original settlement in the Noosa region and is one of its three major centres today.
Hi ...
and Noosa. Total distance from Caloundra Road to this interchange is .
Noosa to Gympie
The to the end of the M1 at
Kybong includes three interchanges that provide access to the Old Bruce Highway. From Kybong the highway is designated A1. It has numerous parts with lower speed limits, including urban areas, high crash zones and roadwork sites. After from Kybong the Mary Valley Road interchange provides access to the west of the
Mary River. The highway then passes through the
Gympie
Gympie ( ) is a city and a locality in the Gympie Region, Queensland, Australia. In the Wide Bay-Burnett District, Gympie is about north of the state capital, Brisbane. The city lies on the Mary River, which floods Gympie occasionally. The ...
urban fringe, with several at grade intersections providing access to various parts of the city. North of Gympie, from the Mary Valley Road interchange, the
Wide Bay Highway interchange is reached, providing access to
Kilkivan. Total distance from the Cooroy interchange is .
Gympie to Maryborough
The from the Wide Bay Highway interchange to the Maryborough–Biggenden Road interchange at Maryborough passes through
Tiaro
Tiaro is a rural town and locality in the Fraser Coast Region, Queensland, Australia. In the , the locality of Tiaro had a population of 758 people.
Geography
The town is on the Mary River. It is situated on the Bruce Highway south of Mar ...
and the Gympie Road exit to
Maryborough before crossing the
Mary River.
Maryborough to Rockhampton
The highway maintains a speed limit of 100 occasionally slowing down to 60 or 50 while driving through several small towns including
Childers,
Gin Gin,
Miriam Vale
Miriam Vale is a rural town and locality in the Gladstone Region, Queensland, Australia. In the , Miriam Vale had a population of 512 people.
Geography
The town is situated on the Bruce Highway, north of Brisbane, the state capital, and south ...
and
Mount Larcom before reaching
Rockhampton.
Development of the M1
With the completion of Section C of the ''Bruce Highway – Cooroy to Curra'' upgrade project (Traveston to
Woondum) in February 2018 the M1 has now been extended to
Kybong, south of
Gympie
Gympie ( ) is a city and a locality in the Gympie Region, Queensland, Australia. In the Wide Bay-Burnett District, Gympie is about north of the state capital, Brisbane. The city lies on the Mary River, which floods Gympie occasionally. The ...
. The Bruce Highway from Kybong to Gympie remains signed as A1. Section D of the project (Woondum to
Curra, including a bypass of Gympie) will, when completed in 2024, become the next stage of the M1.
While the references use Woondum as a designator for sections of the project the new intersection that marks the end of the M1 is wholly within the locality of Kybong, although bordered on two sides by Woondum.
History
Remnants of early roads to the north of Brisbane
Roads to the north of Brisbane in the early days of settlement were constrained by the need to use reliable low level crossings of rivers and creeks well upstream from the coast.
South Pine Road runs from
Enoggera Road
Enoggera Road is a major road in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It is the main access road that connects the north-west Brisbane suburbs to Enoggera Creek towards the inner suburbs and the Brisbane CBD.
The road is commonly used by commuters t ...
at
Alderley through
Everton Park to
Everton Hills
Everton Hills is a suburb in the Moreton Bay Region, Queensland, Australia. In the , Everton Hills had a population of 5,938 people.
Geography
Located in the north-west of the Brisbane metropolitan area, the suburb extends northwest from Ev ...
, crossing
Kedron Brook
The Kedron Brook is a creek that flows through the northern suburbs of Brisbane in the south-east region of Queensland, Australia.
Course and features
Formed by spring D'Aguilar Range within the southern portion of the D'Aguilar National Park ...
.
Bunya Road runs from South Pine Road at Everton Hills to Eatons Crossing Road at
Draper
Draper was originally a term for a retailer or wholesaler of cloth that was mainly for clothing. A draper may additionally operate as a cloth merchant or a haberdasher.
History
Drapers were an important trade guild during the medieval period, ...
, after crossing the
South Pine River
The South Pine River is a minor river located in South East Queensland, Australia. It rises on the D'Aguilar Range and passes through the Samford Valley in the Moreton Bay Region local government area.
Location and features
The South Pine Rive ...
at Drapers Crossing (a
fordable crossing).
Old Northern Road runs from South Pine Road at Everton Park to ''another'' South Pine Road at
Albany Creek
Albany Creek is a southern suburb in the Moreton Bay Region, Queensland, Australia. In the , Albany Creek had a population of 15,769 people.
Geography
Albany Creek is located approximately 17 kilometres north-west of the Brisbane central bus ...
. Eatons Crossing Road runs from this road (north of the South Pine River) to Draper. This South Pine Road continues north over the South Pine River via Cash's Crossing and thence to Gympie Road at
Strathpine.
Old North Road links this South Pine Road at
Brendale to Youngs Crossing Road at
Bray Park. Youngs Crossing Road continues to Dayboro Road at
Petrie
Petrie is a surname of Scottish origin which may refer to:
People
* Alexander Petrie (died 1662), Scottish minister
* Alistair Petrie (born 1970), English actor
* Andrew Petrie (1798–1872), Scottish-born builder, architect and first free settle ...
after crossing the
North Pine River
The North Pine River is a minor river located in South East Queensland, Australia.
Location and features
The North Pine River rises in the D'Aguilar Range in the Mount Mee State Forest, approximately northwest of Brisbane, and flows general ...
.
Further upstream, Whiteside Road (now submerged by
Lake Samsonvale) provided a fordable crossing at Quinn's Crossing when water level was too high at Youngs Crossing.
Further north, another segment of Old North Road starts at Caboolture River Road in
Upper Caboolture, crosses the
Caboolture River
The Caboolture River is a small river in South East Queensland, Australia.
Location and features
Formed by runoff from the D'Aguilar Range, the Caboolture River rises below near and flows generally east, joined by two minor tributaries and ...
at Zillmans Crossing and proceeds to
Wamuran
Wamuran is a rural town and locality in the Moreton Bay Region, Queensland, Australia. In the , the locality of Wamuran had a population of 3,196 people.
Wamuran is known for its fresh strawberries and pineapples.
Geography
Wamuran is located ...
.
Early roads from the North Pine River crossing to the Caboolture River crossing may have included parts of:
* Narangba Road from
Anzac Avenue
Anzac Avenue is a heritage-listed major arterial road lined with trees in the Moreton Bay Region, Queensland, Australia. It runs from Petrie to Redcliffe, with most of the route signed as state route 71. The route was formerly the main ro ...
in
Kallangur to
Narangba
Narangba is a town and suburb of the Moreton Bay Region, Queensland, Australia. It is located 34 km north of Brisbane CBD. This suburb has rural origins, but is being redeveloped as a residential suburb on the outskirts of the greater Bris ...
, where it becomes (after a short distance as Main Street) Oakey Flat Road , to Morayfield Road at
Morayfield
Morayfield is a town and suburb in the Moreton Bay Region, Queensland, Australia. In the , the suburb of Morayfield had a population of 21,394 people.
Morayfield is by road north of Brisbane CBD, the state capital.
Geography
Morayfield is a ...
.
* Burpengary Road from Boundary Road at
Dakabin to
Burpengary, where it becomes Station Road. From Station Road the direct route to Morayfield follows Obrien Road and Lindsay Road.
* Old Gympie Road from Anzac Avenue in Kallangur to Morayfield Road at Burpengary.
* Caboolture River Road from Morayfield Road at Morayfield to Old North Road at Upper Caboolture.
The Oakey Flat Road route avoids the crossing of Burpengary Creek on Obrien Road at Burpengary. From Oakey Flat Road at Morayfield a route consisting of Williamson Road, Forest Hills Drive, Haywood Road and Moorina Road runs to Caboolture River Road at Upper Caboolture, avoiding the crossing of Sheep Station Creek on Morayfield Road at Morayfield.
Early roads from
Caboolture (after travelling east from Wamuran) to
Landsborough and then to the Bruce Highway at
Palmview may have included parts of:
* Another segment of Old Gympie Road from Caboolture to Landsborough.
* Beerburrum Road from Caboolture to
Beerburrum, where it joins the
Steve Irwin
Stephen Robert Irwin (22 February 19624 September 2006), known as "The Crocodile Hunter", was an Australian zookeeper, conservationist, television personality, wildlife educator, and environmentalist.
Irwin grew up around crocodiles and ot ...
Way to Landsborough and Palmview.
Tom Petrie’s roads
Murrumba Homestead Grounds
The following quotations are from the
Murrumba Homestead Grounds article.
* "To facilitate his timber operations Tom Petrie marked out several early northern roads, including a track between the Pine River and Bald Hills and a trail from Murrumba to Maroochydore, which later became the Gympie Road. He also blazed a track from North Pine to Humpybong (Redcliffe)."
* "In 1869 Cobb & Co opened a coach route from Brisbane to Gympie via the route Tom had helped mark out."
Anzac Avenue
Anzac Avenue
Anzac Avenue is a heritage-listed major arterial road lined with trees in the Moreton Bay Region, Queensland, Australia. It runs from Petrie to Redcliffe, with most of the route signed as state route 71. The route was formerly the main ro ...
is part of the history of the Bruce Highway as the highway followed it from Petrie to
Rothwell for many years prior to the construction of its present alignment.
The following quotation is from the Anzac Avenue article.
* "A road from Bald Hills to Redcliffe was formed by the early 1860s, but by 1864 this was almost impassable. Tom Petrie marked a track from the Hays Inlet crossing and in the early 1870s assisted in surveying the road. Known as the "Brisbane Road" it became the primary way of accessing the Redcliffe Peninsula by road."
Upgrades
One of the most dramatic deviations of the highway was the Bald Hills to Burpengary Deviation. Beginning construction in 1972, the new route took traffic from Gympie Road at Bald Hills to Uhlmann Road at Burpengary along a much superior alignment which was also constructed to four lanes. The new route was officially opened on 10 November 1977 at a total cost of $20 million.
Due to the nature of wet weather and tropical cyclone prone areas of North Queensland, the highway is prone to frequent flooding in a number of places. Following the catastrophic
Queensland floods in 2010–2011 the Australian Government commissioned a feasibility study on flood-proofing the highway.
Numerous stretches of the highway are set to undergo redevelopment, realignment, flood-proofing and extension of dual carriageway sections.
Former Premier
Anna Bligh announced the plans while launching the
Queensland Infrastructure Plan (Now (A part of) known as Building Our Future, it includes all Transport Infrastructure Projects Nation-wide). The works are expected to total A$2 billion and include 77 projects over a period of two decades.
As of December 2020, 23 major projects had been completed under the program including the delivery of 64 bridges, 30 new rest stops, 300 km safer roadsides, and 190 km wide centre line treatments.
A stretch of road between
Cardwell and
Tully, which is prone to frequent flooding in the wet season, is set to undergo realignment. A new route for the highway through
Townsville
Townsville is a city on the north-eastern coast of Queensland, Australia. With a population of 180,820 as of June 2018, it is the largest settlement in North Queensland; it is unofficially considered its capital. Estimated resident population, 3 ...
was under construction with the first stage of the
Townsville Ring Road (now called The Ring Road) already completed.
An upgrade to a stretch of the highway north of
Townsville
Townsville is a city on the north-eastern coast of Queensland, Australia. With a population of 180,820 as of June 2018, it is the largest settlement in North Queensland; it is unofficially considered its capital. Estimated resident population, 3 ...
has been given approval, and will see the existing dual carriageway to the north extended by another 11 km. It will also include installation of traffic lights at Mt Low Parkway, and will be the final stage of the Ring Road link up to this section by 2015. The Queensland Main Roads Department's ultimate concept map of the development shows that the highway will progressively become Motorway standard by 2015, with the implementation of interchanges at various junctions.
The highway south of
Cairns will see sections of the highway to the suburb of
Edmonton
Edmonton ( ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Alberta. Edmonton is situated on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Metropolitan Region, which is surrounded by Alberta's central region. The city ancho ...
become six lanes, with progressive dual-carriageway redevelopment of the highway to
Gordonvale.
To improve flood immunity of the highway south of
Childers, a new and improved road alignment and a higher
bridge
A bridge is a structure built to span a physical obstacle (such as a body of water, valley, road, or rail) without blocking the way underneath. It is constructed for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle, which is usually somethi ...
over the
Isis River were completed in September 2011.
Between the
Gateway Motorway
The Gateway Motorway (M2 to Eight Mile Plains and M1 to Pine River) is a major tolled motorway in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia which includes the Sir Leo Hielscher Bridges (former Gateway Bridge). The motorway is operated by toll road opera ...
and Caboolture, the highway has been widened to eight and six lanes since 2001, including the Dohles Rocks Road to Boundary Road section in October 2004, the Boundary Road to Uhlmann Road section in March 2007, and the latest section Uhlmann Road to Bribie Island Road in November 2009. Extension of the six lane section to Steve Irwin Way is proposed to commence in 2020.
A new interchange has been built at the notorious intersection of Roys Road at
Beerwah. It also connects to the nearby Bells Creek Road, eliminating another dangerous intersection. This follows a similar situation at Buchanans Road in Morayfield, the intersection of which was replaced by an interchange in November 1996.
The Pumicestone Road interchange has also undergone a redesign, replacing the original low-level bridge and ramps constructed in October 1970.
The Nambour-Bli Bli Road interchange was upgraded in 1998 from a half-diamond to a dumbbell. The old interchange had lasted just 8 years. Later on, the entire
Nambour
Nambour is a rural town and locality in the Sunshine Coast Region, Queensland, Australia. In the , the locality of Nambour had a population of 11,187 people.
Geography
Nambour is north of the state capital, Brisbane. The town lies in the sub ...
Bypass went through a process of rehabilitation due to the extremely rough surface and dangerous pothole appearances during wet weather. This work was completed in 2009.
As of 2020 Sections A, B & C of the joint State and Federal funded Cooroy to Curra upgrade of the highway are open. Early works for Section D has commenced. When completed, the Cooroy to Curra upgrade will bypass the town of
Gympie
Gympie ( ) is a city and a locality in the Gympie Region, Queensland, Australia. In the Wide Bay-Burnett District, Gympie is about north of the state capital, Brisbane. The city lies on the Mary River, which floods Gympie occasionally. The ...
and a predominantly two lane section will be replaced with a four lane dual-carriageway.
Major upgrades: Bald Hills to Cooroy
Major upgrades: Cooroy to Rockhampton
Major upgrades: Rockhampton to Townsville
Major upgrades: Townsville to Cairns
Projects
Northern Australian Beef Roads Upgrade
The
Northern Australia Beef Roads Program
Northern Australia Beef Roads Program is a suite of projects designed to deliver targeted upgrades to key roads for transporting cattle in northern Australia. In 2016 the Australian Government announced 18 projects to be funded under this program. ...
announced in 2016 included the following project:
Road train access to Rockhampton (stage 2)
The project for upgrading between Gracemere saleyards and the Rockhampton abattoirs to provide access for Type 1
Road Trains was completed by early 2021 at a total cost of $30 million. It involved about of road improvements on four roads:
*
Capricorn Highway
The Capricorn Highway is located in Central Queensland, Australia, and links the city of Rockhampton with western Queensland. The highway is long, and joins the Landsborough Highway at Barcaldine. Formerly National Route 66, Queensland began ...
- from Saleyards Road at Gracemere to the Bruce Highway roundabout at Rockhampton ().
* Bruce Highway - from the Capricorn Highway roundabout to the Yaamba Road intersection ().
* Rockhampton-Yeppoon Road - from the Bruce Highway intersection south-west to the Emu Park Road intersection (.
* Rockhampton-Emu Park Road - from the Rockhampton-Yeppoon Road intersection to St Christophers Chapel Road at ().
Highway towns
Travelling north, the following towns and small cities are found on (or very close to) the Bruce Highway.
Brisbane to Maryborough
*
Narangba
Narangba is a town and suburb of the Moreton Bay Region, Queensland, Australia. It is located 34 km north of Brisbane CBD. This suburb has rural origins, but is being redeveloped as a residential suburb on the outskirts of the greater Bris ...
*
Burpengary
*
Morayfield
Morayfield is a town and suburb in the Moreton Bay Region, Queensland, Australia. In the , the suburb of Morayfield had a population of 21,394 people.
Morayfield is by road north of Brisbane CBD, the state capital.
Geography
Morayfield is a ...
*
Caboolture
*
Elimbah
Elimbah is a rural town and locality in the Moreton Bay Region, Queensland, Australia. In the , the locality of Elimbah had a population of 3,963 people. Material was copied from this source, which is available under a Creative Commons Attribut ...
*
Beerburrum
*
Glass House Mountains
The Glass House Mountains are a cluster of thirteen hills that rise abruptly from the coastal plain on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia. The highest hill is Mount Beerwah at 556 metres above sea level, but the most identifiable of a ...
*
Beerwah
*
Landsborough
*
Woombye
Woombye is a town and locality in the Sunshine Coast Region, Queensland, Australia. In the , Woombye had a population of 3,246 people.
Geography
Woombye is located on the Sunshine Coast hinterland in Queensland, Australia, approximately no ...
*
Nambour
Nambour is a rural town and locality in the Sunshine Coast Region, Queensland, Australia. In the , the locality of Nambour had a population of 11,187 people.
Geography
Nambour is north of the state capital, Brisbane. The town lies in the sub ...
*
Bli Bli
Bli Bli () is a rural town and locality in the Sunshine Coast Region, Queensland, Australia. In the , Bli Bli had a population of 7,801 people. Geography
A few kilometres inland from the Maroochydore urban area, Bli Bli rises above the wetland ...
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Yandina
*
North Arm
North Arm is a settlement in Lafonia, the southern part of East Falkland, in the Falkland Islands, It is on the south coast, on the shore of the Bay of Harbours, and overlooks Sea Lion Island in the distance. In 2007, the population was 25 p ...
*
Eumundi
Eumundi is a rural town and locality in the Sunshine Coast Region, Queensland, Australia. In the , the locality of Eumundi had a population of 2,221 people.
Eumundi is very popular on the coast for its bi-weekly farmers' markets. The marketpla ...
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Cooroy
Cooroy is a rural town and locality in the Shire of Noosa, Queensland, Australia. In the the locality of Cooroy had a population of 3,791 people.
Geography
Cooroy is inland from the northern Sunshine Coast hinterland about west of Noosa H ...
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Pomona
*
Cooran
Cooran is a rural hinterland town and locality in the Shire of Noosa, Queensland, Australia. In the the locality of Cooran had a population of 1,624 people.
Geography
Cooran is predominantly farming land with its urban centre in the north of ...
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Traveston
*
Gympie
Gympie ( ) is a city and a locality in the Gympie Region, Queensland, Australia. In the Wide Bay-Burnett District, Gympie is about north of the state capital, Brisbane. The city lies on the Mary River, which floods Gympie occasionally. The ...
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Gunalda
*
Bauple
*
Tiaro
Tiaro is a rural town and locality in the Fraser Coast Region, Queensland, Australia. In the , the locality of Tiaro had a population of 758 people.
Geography
The town is on the Mary River. It is situated on the Bruce Highway south of Mar ...
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Owanyilla
*
Tinana
In Māori tradition, ''Tinana'' (also known as ''Te Mamaru'') was one of the great ocean-going, voyaging canoes that was used in the migrations that settled New Zealand.
The ''Tinana'' canoe, later renamed ''Te Māmaru'', is particularly imp ...
Maryborough to Rockhampton
*
Aldershot
Aldershot () is a town in Hampshire, England. It lies on heathland in the extreme northeast corner of the county, southwest of London. The area is administered by Rushmoor Borough Council. The town has a population of 37,131, while the Alder ...
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Torbanlea
Torbanlea is a rural town and locality in the Fraser Coast Region, Queensland, Australia. In the the locality of Torbanlea had a population of 791 people.
Geography
The Burrum River forms the western and northern boundary of the locality. T ...
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Howard
*
Horton
*
Childers
*
Appletree Creek
*
Booyal
*
Wallaville
Wallaville is a rural town and locality in the Bundaberg Region, Queensland, Australia. It is north of the state capital, Brisbane and south west of the regional centre of Bundaberg. In the , Wallaville had a population of 410 people.
Geograp ...
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Gin Gin
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Miriam Vale
Miriam Vale is a rural town and locality in the Gladstone Region, Queensland, Australia. In the , Miriam Vale had a population of 512 people.
Geography
The town is situated on the Bruce Highway, north of Brisbane, the state capital, and south ...
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Bororen
Bororen is a rural town and locality in the Gladstone Region, Queensland, Australia. In the , Bororen had a population of 398 people.
Geography
The town is located in the centre of the locality. The Bruce Highway enters from the south-east (Mi ...
*
Benaraby
*
Calliope
In Greek mythology, Calliope ( ; grc, Καλλιόπη, Kalliópē, beautiful-voiced) is the Muse who presides over eloquence and epic poetry; so called from the ecstatic harmony of her voice. Hesiod and Ovid called her the "Chief of all Muse ...
*
Mount Larcom
*
Ambrose
*
Raglan
*
Marmor
*
Bajool
*
Gracemere
Rockhampton to Mackay
*
The Caves
*
Yaamba
*
Marlborough
Marlborough may refer to:
Places United Kingdom
* Marlborough, Wiltshire, England
** Marlborough College, public school
* Marlborough School, Woodstock in Oxfordshire, England
* The Marlborough Science Academy in Hertfordshire, England
Austral ...
*
Ogmore
*
St Lawrence
Saint Lawrence or Laurence ( la, Laurentius, lit. " laurelled"; 31 December AD 225 – 10 August 258) was one of the seven deacons of the city of Rome under Pope Sixtus II who were martyred in the persecution of the Christians that the Roman ...
*
Clairview
*
Carmila
*
Ilbilbie
*
Koumala
*
Sarina
*
Bakers Creek
Mackay to Townsville
*
Glenella
*
Farleigh
*
Kuttabul
*
Mount Ossa
*
Kolijo &
Calen
*
Yalboroo
*
Bloomsbury
*
Proserpine
*
Bowen &
Merinda
*
Guthalungra
*
Gumlu
*
Inkerman
Inkerman ( uk, Інкерман, russian: Инкерман, crh, İnkerman) is a city in the Crimean peninsula. It is '' de facto'' within the federal city of Sevastopol within the Russian Federation, but '' de jure'' within Ukraine. It li ...
*
Home Hill
*
Ayr
Ayr (; sco, Ayr; gd, Inbhir Àir, "Mouth of the River Ayr") is a town situated on the southwest coast of Scotland. It is the administrative centre of the South Ayrshire Subdivisions of Scotland, council area and the historic Shires of Scotlan ...
*
Brandon
Brandon may refer to:
Names and people
*Brandon (given name), a male given name
*Brandon (surname), a surname with several different origins
Places
Australia
*Brandon, a farm and 19th century homestead in Seaham, New South Wales
*Brandon, Q ...
Townsville to Cairns
*
Deeragun
*
Yabulu
Yabulu is a town and coastal suburb in the City of Townsville, Queensland, Australia. In the , Yabulu had a population of 697 people.
Geography
Yabulu is approximately north of Townsville, Queensland, Australia. The Bruce Highway passes thro ...
*
Bluewater
*
Rollingstone Rollingstone may refer to several locations:
* Rollingstone, Queensland, Australia
* Rollingstone, Minnesota, U.S.
* Rollingstone Creek
Rollingstone Creek is a stream in Winona County, in the U.S. state of Minnesota.
Rollingstone Creek is the f ...
*
Mutarnee
*
Bambaroo
*
Toobanna
*
Ingham
*
Cardwell
*
Tully
*
Midgenoo
*
El Arish
ʻArish or el-ʻArīsh ( ar, العريش ' , ''Hrinokorura'') is the capital and largest city (with 164,830 inhabitants ) of the North Sinai Governorate of Egypt, as well as the largest city on the entire Sinai Peninsula, lying on the Medite ...
*
Silkwood
*
Moresby
*
Mourilyan
*
Innisfail
*
Mirriwinni
*
Babinda
Babinda is a rural town and locality in the Cairns Region, Queensland, Australia. In the , the locality of Babinda had a population of 1,253 people.
Geography
Babinda is located south of Cairns.
The town is noted for its proximity to Queensl ...
*
Bellenden Ker
Mount Bellenden Ker is the second-highest mountain in Queensland, Australia, with a height of . It is named after the botanist John Bellenden Ker Gawler. Located south of Cairns near Babinda, it is adjacent to Mount Bartle Frere, the state' ...
*
Deeral
*
Fishery Falls
*
Aloomba
*
Gordonvale
*
Wrights Creek
*
Mount Peter
*
Edmonton
Edmonton ( ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Alberta. Edmonton is situated on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Metropolitan Region, which is surrounded by Alberta's central region. The city ancho ...
*
Bentley Park
*
Mount Sheridan
Mount Sheridan el. is a prominent mountain peak overlooking Heart Lake in the Red Mountains of Yellowstone National Park. The peak is named in honor of General Philip H. Sheridan, U.S. Army, one of the early protectors of the park.
History
...
*
White Rock
*
Woree
Major intersections
M1
To avoid unnecessary length this table does not show any bridges (see
River crossings A river crossing is a means to get from one river bank to the other and may refer to:
* A ford (crossing)
* A bridge
* A tunnel
* Any type of ferry
** A cable ferry
** A reaction ferry
** A water taxi
* an overhead line crossing
See also
* Ri ...
below)
A1
To avoid unnecessary length this table does not show any bridges (see
River crossings A river crossing is a means to get from one river bank to the other and may refer to:
* A ford (crossing)
* A bridge
* A tunnel
* Any type of ferry
** A cable ferry
** A reaction ferry
** A water taxi
* an overhead line crossing
See also
* Ri ...
below)
Route of former Bruce Highway through Townsville
The former Bruce Highway diverts from the A1 at the Annandale, Douglas, Mount Stuart tripoint ( from start – see Major intersections – A1) and rejoins at the Deeragun / Mount Low boundary ( from start) It runs north as University Road, crossing the Ross River via the
Charles N Barton Bridge and continuing north as Nathan Street. It crosses Ross River Road (State Route 72) and Dalrymple Road, continuing north as Duckworth Street. It then turns west into Woolcock Street, crossing Louisa Creek and the Bohle River before turning north-west to rejoin the A1 after crossing Saunders Creek and Stony Creek. Total distance is , compared to almost on the A1.
River crossings
The accompanying diagram shows the crossings of all named rivers by the Bruce Highway.
Queensland Electric Super Highway
To facilitate the use of
electric vehicles the Queensland Government has installed fast chargers in convenient, safe locations close to major highways where there are existing amenities such as cafes, restaurants and shops. This network is collectively described as the Queensland Electric Super Highway. For a limited time charging electric vehicles at these stations will be free. The majority of these are along the Bruce Highway, at the locations listed below (from south to north):
* Cooroy
* Maryborough
* Gin Gin
* Childers
* Miriam Vale
* Mt Larcom
* Rockhampton
* Marlborough
* Carmila
* Mackay
* Proserpine
* Bowen
* Ayr
* Townsville
* Cardwell
* Tully
* Cairns
Other locations are:
*
Hamilton Hamilton may refer to:
People
* Hamilton (name), a common British surname and occasional given name, usually of Scottish origin, including a list of persons with the surname
** The Duke of Hamilton, the premier peer of Scotland
** Lord Hamilt ...
*
Helensvale
Helensvale is a suburb of the City of Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia. In the , Helensvale had a population of 16,862 people.
Geography
Helensvale is bounded by the Pacific Motorway to the west, by the Coomera River to the north, by S ...
*
Coolangatta
Coolangatta is a coastal suburb in the City of Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. It is the Gold Coast's southernmost suburb and it borders New South Wales. In the , Coolangatta had a population of 5,948 people.
Geography
Coolangatta and its ...
*
Springfield
*
Gatton
*
Toowoomba
Toowoomba ( , nicknamed 'The Garden City' and 'T-Bar') is a city in the Toowoomba Region of the Darling Downs, Queensland, Australia. It is west of Queensland's capital city Brisbane by road. The urban population of Toowoomba as of the 2021 ...
Precise locations
Only three of the
charging stations are on the highway. They are at Cardwell, Marlborough and Carmila (Puma Service Stations) The others are some distance from the highway in car parks or other places as listed in the reference. Note that the reference does not include the precise location of the Townsville charging station.
Distances
The greatest distance between charging stations used to be about 216 km from Townsville to Tully. Other stages greater than 150 km (which may have exceeded the range of some electric vehicles) were:
* Childers to Miriam Vale (about 155 km)
* Miriam Vale to Rockhampton (about 170 km)
* Mackay to Bowen (about 191 km)
* Bowen to Townsville (about 202 km)
Those issues have been alleviated with phase 2 of the project which added more charging stations, for example at Gin Gin, Mt Larcom, Proserpine and Ayr.
See also
*
Freeways in Australia
Australian Capital Territory Canberra region
* Majura Parkway
Other freeways (no route number)
* Adelaide Avenue
* Yarra Glen
* Capital Circle
* Gungahlin Drive Extension
* Parkes Way
* Tuggeranong Parkway
Gallery
File:High ...
*
Freeways in Brisbane
*
Freeways in Sunshine Coast
*
Highways in Australia
Highways in Australia are generally high capacity roads managed by state and territory government agencies, though Australia's federal government contributes funding for important links between capital cities and major regional centres. Prio ...
*
List of highways in Queensland
Queensland, being the second largest (by area) state in Australia, is also the most decentralised. Hence the highways and roads cover most parts of the state unlike the sparsely populated Western Australia. Even Queensland's outback is well ser ...
References
External links
Australian Towns, Cities & Highways – Bruce HighwayBruce-Highway-Cooroy-to-CurraSir Charles Newton Barton, Queensland Commissioner for Main Roads, 1960-1969
{{Bruce Highway towns
Highways in Queensland
1982 Commonwealth Games venues
Highway 1 (Australia)