Mackay Whitsunday
Fast facts
Population of Queensland
3.44%
Data source: Queensland Government Statistician's Office (Queensland Treasury), Queensland Regional Profiles www.qgso.qld.gov.au, April 2020
Data source: *A Road Management Information System (ARMIS), 30 June 2020
Data source: **Bridge Information System (BIS), 30 June 2020
Highlights
- Continued upgrading the Peak Downs Highway at Eton Range, jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland governments.
- Commenced construction of additional lanes of the Bruce Highway between Ron Camm Bridge and Mackay Ring Road Stage 1, as part of the Mackay Northern Access Upgrade project, jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland governments.
- Continued construction of the Mackay Ring Road (Stage 1) project, jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland governments.
- Commenced widening formation and rehabilitation of the Bruce Highway between Hampden and Kuttabul, jointly funded by the Australian and Queenslandgovernments.
- Worked with Mackay Regional Council to deliver new bus stops to improve access to the Mackay bus network.
Walkerston Bypass
Design works continue on the Walkerston Bypass project which
will deliver a new 10.4 kilometre two-lane link between the
Peak Downs Highway (Eton Range) and the Bruce Highway four
kilometres south-west of the current connection, and a new floodfree
crossing at Bakers Creek.
Once completed, the Walkerston Bypass will integrate with the
Peak Downs Highway–Eton Range upgrade and the Mackay Ring
Road projects.
The project will deliver improved safety and network benefits by
diverting the current heavy vehicle route away from Walkerston
and will ensure the long-term liveability of the Mackay area and
support expansive future economic growth.
The $150 million project is jointly funded by the Australian and
Queensland governments.
Construction is scheduled to commence in early 2021 and is
expected to be completed in late 2023.
Sarina Northern Access
Work on the intersection to the upgrade of Sarina Beach Road and the Bruce Highway, originally scheduled for completion in March 2020, was completed early and opened to traffic in December 2019.
The upgrade provided a new two-lane roundabout to address predicted traffic volumes and to accommodate the mix of heavy vehicles, highway users, and local traffic.
The new roundabout will improve manoeuvrability for heavy vehicles turning onto and off the Bruce Highway. Other benefits include improved traffic flow through the intersection and a reduced risk of crashes caused by queuing and right-turn movements.
The roundabout will slow highway traffic approaching Sarina, creating a safer road environment for motorists, pedestrians, and nearby residents.
This major upgrade was delivered as part of the $12.6 billion Bruce Highway Upgrade Program to improve safety, flood resilience and capacity along the Bruce Highway.
Mackay–Eungella and Marian–Hampden Road
intersection upgrade
Work on the $1.3 million upgrade to the Mackay–Eungella and
Marian–Hampden Road intersection was completed in May 2020.
The project has delivered:
- improved safety for users of Mackay–Eungella Road and
surrounding side roads
- improved traffic flow
- reduced congestion
- improved surface skid resistance
- enhanced signage
- installation of controlled traffic signals
- signalised pedestrian crossing on David Price Way.
Motorists are now experiencing reduced queuing during peak
hour periods and safer access.
This project was delivered under the Queensland Government’s
Safer Road Sooner program, which targets road safety
improvement at locations with a high severity crash history.
Mackay Ring Road
Construction on the Mackay Ring Road (Stage 1) project
continues.
The 11.3 kilometre two-lane Mackay Ring Road includes the
construction of four water crossings and nine overpass structures.
The project also includes an upgrade to a section of the Peak
Downs Highway between Horse and Jockey Road and Sextons
Road and construction of a new shared pedestrian and bicycle
pathway. All upgrade works along the Peak Downs Highway
are complete, and locals are now benefitting from the shared
pedestrian and bicycle pathway.
The Mackay Ring Road will cater for future growth and improve
road network connectivity. New connections at the Bruce Highway
South, Peak Downs Highway, and Bruce Highway North are being
constructed. Collectively, these network connections will improve
freight efficiency for Bruce Highway traffic and improve an
important connection for the supply chain to the northern Bowen
basin.
The Mackay Ring Road is being delivered as part of the $12.6
billion Bruce Highway Upgrade Program to improve safety, flood
resilience and capacity along the Bruce Highway.
Construction of the project is on track for completion in late 2020.
Mackay Northern Access upgrade
Construction began in February 2020 on the four kilometre
Mackay Northern Access Upgrade project which will address
congestion and improve safety for freight and local traffic in the
Mackay urban area.
The works include:
- widening the section of the Bruce Highway from Ron
Camm Bridge to Mackay-Bucasia Road intersection to
six lanes
- widening the section from Mackay-Bucasia Road to the
Bald Hill Road intersection to four lanes
- widening of the existing bridge and constructing a new
bridge at Janes Creek
- constructing a new bridge overpass at Davey Street
widening of the Goosepond Creek bridges.
Once completed, the project will reduce delays and queuing
during peak hours. Traffic flow will be boosted at critical locations
on the Bruce Highway and major intersections north of Mackay.
Construction of the jointly funded Australian and Queensland
governments project is on track for completion in early 2022.
Eton Range realignment
Construction of the Eton Range realignment project is progressing
towards completion.
To provide a safer and more efficient range crossing, the project
will widen and partially realign the existing range crossing to two
lanes in each direction. The upgrade will reduce the current grade
and tight curves, improving the safety of the range, particularly for
heavy vehicles.
The project will cater for future growth and projected vehicle
numbers, improve safety, and increase efficiency and capacity of
this key transport route.
A koala research study, using GPS tracking collars, was
undertaken. Using the information collated, the study
recommended the installation of fauna fencing to help address
impacts to wildlife.
Wildlife fencing has been installed at Dennison Creek on the
Peak Downs Highway between Nebo and Eton to help reduce the
number of koalas injured or killed on the roadway.
The project is nearing completion, with construction expected to
be completed in September 2020.
