The $514.3 million Haughton River Floodplain Upgrade project has reached a major milestone, with the first traffic switch on to the new Bruce Highway at Giru.

A further switch this week will also allow motorists to start using the wider highway between Greenacres and the approaches to the Reed Beds.

Federal Member for Dawson George Christensen said the Giru switch meant motorists were using five out of the seven bridges and overpasses being built as part of the project, and 8.9km of the total 13.5km of the upgraded highway.

“Additionally, in a couple of days, that will increase to include the sixth bridge and a further 2.6km of new highway being driven on,” he said.

“In what will most certainly be very welcome news to the people of North Queensland, traffic is now using the wider and higher Haughton River bridge, which includes bridge rails unlike the existing, narrow and ageing structure.”

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Mr Christensen said the highway upgrade in the floodprone stretch would improve freight reliability, enhance regional connectivity for key industries and boost accessibility for rural residents travelling to Townsville for essential health services.

“Safety will be enhanced with the elimination of two at-grade rail crossings at the Bruce Highway intersections with the Woodstock Giru Road and Hodel Road, south of Haughton,” Mr Christensen said.

“Once final works at the remaining bridge are completed over coming weeks, traffic will then be switched on to the final section of new Bruce Highway across the Reed Beds and up to Palm Creek in early September.

“These are significant milestones, as the project tracks toward completion.”

Queensland Minister for Transport and Main Roads Mark Bailey said the travel improvements realised as part of the project extended further than during the wet season.

“As part of the Haughton River Floodplain Upgrade project, highway overpasses of cane railways have been built at Upper Haughton and Hodel Roads, as well as at Shirbourne Road,” he said.

“These overpasses eliminate the need for Bruce Highway traffic to stop for the 60 cane trains which pass through the area each day, significantly improving travel times for locals, tourism traffic and the freight industry.”

Work will now begin on finalising local road connections to the new highway at Upper Haughton and Hodel, Shirbourne and Piralko raods.

Over coming months three bridges are due to be demolished, now that they have been replaced with higher crossings. Other works include demolition of existing road, final surface layers and road furnishings.

The $514.3 million Haughton River Floodplain Upgrade is jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland governments under the Bruce Highway Upgrade Program on an 80:20 basis, representing commitments of $411.4 million and $102.9 million respectively.

The project is being delivered by The Infrastructure Group (TIG), a joint venture between Bielby, BMD Constructions, JF Hull Holdings and Alben Operations, on behalf of the Department of Transport and Main Roads.