Project Update – Cooroy to Curra Section D
Works are progressing on both Contract 1 and 2 of this major greenfield road project underway by Department of Transport and Main Roads. Clearing, bulk earthworks, bridge construction, selected blasting and progressive ESC installation are all well and truly in full swing.
The Bruce Highway Upgrade – Cooroy to Curra project involves a 62km upgrade and realignment of the Bruce Highway. The $1 billion Section D: Woondum to Curra (C2CD) is the final section to be constructed and will provide a new 26km, 4-lane divided highway between the existing Bruce Highway interchange at Woondum, south of Gympie and Curra. Adding interchange works and tie-ins to existing roads, this means 30 kilometres of new highway will be constructed for C2CD. The project is being delivered in 2 construction contracts with work underway since October 2020, and is expected to be completed in mid-2024.
Clearing work is almost complete within Contract 1 – a 12km highway section between Woondum and Sandy Creek Road, Veteran – with bulk earthworks and bridges under construction.
Overall, C2CD includes 42 new bridges at 23 locations over waterways, local roads and the North Coast Rail Line. The bridges have been uniquely designed to suit conditions at each location. All C2CD bridges are designed to withstand a 1-in-100 year flood (1% chance of occurring within any year) and meet environmental
requirements and technical standards for safety and design.
At the moment, bridgeworks are underway at 10 locations over waterways and local roads, with several of the local roads realigned to cater for the bridges/overpasses. Work is underway to set up erosion and sediment controls, storage areas and site accesses along the new Bruce Highway alignment. Pioneering vegetation clearing has begun, and heavy equipment is beginning to arrive on-site in preparation for bulk earthworks starting this month!
Department of Transport and Main Roads have released a short flyover video of a bridge site under construction, check it out here:
