Bruce Highway

Bruce Highway Queensland
Map of Queensland with Bruce Highway highlighted in yellow
General information
Type	Highway
Length	1,679 km (1,043 mi)
Route number(s)	M1 (Bald Hills – Kybong) A1 (Kybong – Cairns (except Douglas - Deeragun))
Major junctions
North end	Captain Cook Highway (National Route 1 / State Route 44), Cairns, Queensland
	Palmerston Highway (State Route 25) Flinders Highway (A6) Peak Downs Highway (State Route 70) Capricorn Highway (A4) Burnett Highway (A3) Dawson Highway (State Route 60) Isis Highway (State Route 52) Wide Bay Highway (State Route 49) D'Aguilar Highway (State Route 85) Gympie Arterial Road (M3)
South end	Gateway Motorway (M1), Bald Hills, Brisbane
Location(s)
Major settlements	Townsville, Mackay, Rockhampton, Maryborough, Gympie
Highway system
Highways in Australia National Highway • Freeways in Australia Highways in Queensland

The Bruce Highway is a major highway in Queensland, Australia. Commencing in the state capital, Brisbane, 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 1,679 kilometres (1,043 mi); 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, but was truncated at Bald Hills when the Gateway Motorway 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, many of these upgrades being completed in the 1980s (Glass House Mountains, Tanawha, Maryborough) and 1990s (Nambour, Yandina, and Cooroy).

The highway commences just south of the bridge over the Pine River at the Gateway Motorway interchange, 21 kilometres (13 mi) north of the Brisbane central business district. 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, Maryborough, Rockhampton, Mackay, Townsville, and Cairns. The highway passes the Glasshouse Mountains, rainforests and pastures in the Sunshine Coast, the Gunalda Range (north of Gympie), Mount Larcom (north of Gladstone), and the arid countryside north of Rockhampton; after that, it passes through land predominantly used for sugar cane, crop growing and dairy farms and the sub-tropics and tropics.

Route description[]

Commencing in Bald Hills at the junction of the Gateway Motorway and Gympie Arterial Road, the Bruce Highway is a motorway standard road (signed as the M1) for its first 136 kilometres (85 mi) to Kybong, where it becomes a two-lane sealed highway for most of its remainder. The first 2.5 kilometres (1.6 mi) to the Dohles Rocks Road interchange has eight lanes and a variable (electronically signed) speed limit of up to 100 kilometres per hour (60 mph). The next 22 kilometres (14 mi) to the Caboolture / Bribie Island interchange has six lanes and a maximum speed limit of 100 kilometres per hour (60 mph). From there to Kybong the road has four lanes and, with one short exception, a speed limit of 110 kilometres per hour (70 mph).

Brisbane to Rockhampton[]

Bald Hills to Caboolture[]

This section of the Bruce Highway crosses the Pine River into the Moreton Bay Region, passing through mainly urban areas before crossing the Caboolture River and reaching the Caboolture / Bribie Island interchange after 24.5 kilometres (15.2 mi). It runs past or through Murrumba Downs, Griffin, Kallangur, Mango Hill, North Lakes, Dakabin, Narangba, Burpengary and Morayfield. On the way it is crossed by the Redcliffe Peninsula railway line and passes the Caboolture BP Travel Centre.

Caboolture to Caloundra[]

The Caboolture / Bribie Island interchange also provides access to the D'Aguilar Highway 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 36.1 kilometres (22.4 mi). It passes the southern entry to Steve Irwin Way, a bypassed section of the highway, which provides access to Beerburrum, Glass House Mountains, Beerwah, Australia Zoo and Landsborough before terminating at the Caloundra Road interchange.

Caloundra to Noosa[]

The next 5.6 kilometres (3.5 mi) to the Sunshine Motorway interchange, providing access to the Sunshine Coast, has a speed limit of 100. The speed limit then reverts to 110. After another 7.5 kilometres (4.7 mi) the Maroochydore Road interchange provides access to Maroochydore and Woombye. The Bli Bli Road interchange, after a further 7 kilometres (4.3 mi), provides access to Bli Bli and Nambour. The Yandina–Coolum Road interchange, after 6.7 kilometres (4.2 mi), provides access to Yandina and Coolum. The Eumundi interchange, after 8.4 kilometres (5.2 mi), provides access to Eumundi and Noosa. The Cooroy interchange, after 7.2 kilometres (4.5 mi), provides access to Cooroy, Tewantin and Noosa. Total distance from Caloundra Road to this interchange is 42.4 kilometres (26.3 mi).

Noosa to Gympie[]

The 33 kilometres (21 mi) 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 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) from Kybong the Mary Valley Road interchange provides access to the west of the Mary River. The highway then passes through the Gympie urban fringe, with several at grade intersections providing access to various parts of the city. North of Gympie, 14.3 kilometres (8.9 mi) from the Mary Valley Road interchange, the Wide Bay Highway interchange is reached, providing access to Kilkivan. Total distance from the Cooroy interchange is 55.4 kilometres (34.4 mi).

Gympie to Maryborough[]

The 73.9 kilometres (45.9 mi) from the Wide Bay Highway interchange to the Maryborough–Biggenden Road interchange at Maryborough passes through Tiaro 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 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^[1] the M1 has now been extended to Kybong, 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) south of Gympie. The Bruce Highway from Kybong to Gympie remains signed as A1. Section D of the project (Woondum to Curra, including a bypass of Gympie)^[2] will, when completed, 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.^[3][4]

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 at Alderley through Everton Park to Everton Hills, crossing Kedron Brook.^[5]

Bunya Road runs from South Pine Road at Everton Hills to Eatons Crossing Road at Draper,^[6] after crossing the South Pine River 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.^[7] Eatons Crossing Road runs from this road (north of the South Pine River) to Draper.^[8] This South Pine Road continues north over the South Pine River via Cash's Crossing and thence to Gympie Road at Strathpine.^[9]

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 after crossing the North Pine River.^[10] Further upstream, Whiteside Road^[11] (now submerged by Lake Samsonvale) provided a fordable crossing at Quinn's Crossing^[12] 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 at Zillmans Crossing^[13] and proceeds to Wamuran.^[14]

Early roads from the North Pine River crossing to the Caboolture River crossing may have included parts of:

• Narangba Road from Anzac Avenue in Kallangur to Narangba, where it becomes (after a short distance as Main Street) Oakey Flat Road , to Morayfield Road at Morayfield.^[15]
• 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.^[16]
• Old Gympie Road from Anzac Avenue in Kallangur to Morayfield Road at Burpengary.^[17]
• Caboolture River Road from Morayfield Road at Morayfield to Old North Road at Upper Caboolture.^[18]

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,^[19] 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.^[20]
• Beerburrum Road from Caboolture to Beerburrum,^[21] where it joins the Steve Irwin Way to Landsborough and Palmview.

Tom Petrie’s roads[]

Murrumba Homestead Grounds[]

The following quotations are from the Murrumba Homestead Grounds article.^[22]

• "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 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.^[23]

• "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.^[24]

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.^[25]

Numerous stretches of the highway are set to undergo redevelopment, realignment, flood-proofing and extension of dual carriageway sections.^[26] Former Premier Anna Bligh announced the plans while launching the (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^[27] projects over a period of two decades.^[26] As of December 2020, 23 major projects had been completed under the program including the delivery of 64 bridges, 30 new rest stops, 300km safer roadsides, and 190km wide centre line treatments.^[28]

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 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 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 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 over the Isis River were completed in September 2011.^[29]

Between the Gateway Motorway 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.^[30] 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 Bypass has gone 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 61 kilometres (38 mi) 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 and a predominantly two lane section will be replaced with a four lane dual-carriageway.^[31]

Major upgrades: Bald Hills to Cooroy[]

Date	Details
August 1966	Caboolture Bypass Stage 1. Single-carriageway completed between Burpengary Creek and Bribie Island Road.[32]
August 1970	Caboolture Bypass Stage 2. Single-carriageway completed between Bribie Island Road and Red Road.[33]
December 1972	Single-carriageway deviation between Eumundi and Cooroy, bypassing Eumundi Range Road.[34]
December 1973	Bald Hills to Burpengary Deviation Stage 1. 1.3 mile-long dual-carriageways completed between Roghan Road and Strathpine Road.[35]
December 1973	Beerwah Bypass. 2.5 km-long deviation completed between Roys Road and Foley Road including a new concrete bridge across Coochin Creek.[35]
November 1974	Browns Creek Deviation. 6 km-long single-carriageway completed between Browns Creek and Eerwah Vale.[36]
December 1974	Glasshouse Mountains Bypass. 1.5 km-long deviation completed between Glasshouse Mountains Sportsground and Kings Road including a new concrete bridge across Coonowrin Creek.[36]
August 1976	Eumundi Bypass. 2.4 km-long deviation completed between Eerwah Vale and Main Creek.[37]
2 August 1976	Bald Hills to Burpengary Deviation Stage 2. 12 km-long single-carriageway deviation completed between Strathpine Road and Boundary Road.[37]
March 1977	Bald Hills to Burpengary Deviation Stage 3. Second carriageway completed between Strathpine Road and Anzac Avenue.[37]
10 November 1977	Bald Hills to Burpengary Deviation Stage 4. Boundary Road to Deception Bay Road section completed.[38]
5 December 1978	Bribie Island Road Interchange.[39]
9 August 1979	Burpengary to Bribie Island Road Duplication. Second carriageway completed between Burpengary Creek and Bribie Island Road.[40]
9 December 1985	Beerburrum Creek to Caloundra Road Deviation. Major 26.5 km-long four lane deviation completed between Beerburrum Creek and Caloundra Road.[41]
September 1987	Caloundra Road to Sippy Creek duplication
December 1987	Station Road Overpass (at Burpengary)
16 November 1989	Tanawha Deviation. Four lane deviation completed between Caloundra Road and Maroochydore Road.
January 1990	Johnston Road Interchange. Grade-separated diamond interchange completed as part of Moby Vic's Service Centre development.
23 November 1990	Nambour Bypass Stage 1. Single-carriageway bypass of Nambour completed between Maroochydore Road and Parklands.
December 1992	Dohles Rocks Road half-interchange
20 December 1993	Nambour Bypass Stage 2. Second carriageway completed between Maroochydore Road and Parklands.
April 1994	Deception Bay Road northbound loop ramp
17 May 1994	Cooroy Bypass. Single-carriageway bypass of Cooroy officially opened by Minister for Transport David Hamill.[42]
17 July 1997	Yandina Bypass. Dual-carriageway bypass of Yandina officially opened by Federal Minister for Transport John Sharp.[43]
23 July 2002	Gateway Motorway to Dohles Rocks Road six-laning.
19 September 2003	Yandina to Cooroy Duplication. Dual-carriageways completed between Browns Creek and Eumundi Range.
20 January 2005	Dohles Rocks Road to Boundary Road six-laning. Six-lane upgrade completed between Dohles Rocks Road and Boundary Road, including upgrades to the Anzac Avenue interchange.[44]
12 March 2007	Boundary Road to Uhlmann Road six-laning. Six-lane upgrade completed between Boundary Road and Uhlmann Road, including upgrades to the Deception Bay Road and Uhlmann Road interchanges.[45]
5 November 2009	Uhlmann Road to Bribie Island Road six-laning. Six-lane upgrade completed between Uhlmann Road and Bribie Island Road, including upgrades to the Bribie Island Road interchange.

Major upgrades: Cooroy to Rockhampton[]

Date	Details
May 1940	Wallaville - Burnett River Bridge
December 1967	Ambrose to Raglan Deviation
April 1973	Gunalda Bypass
1974	Gavial Deviation (Rockhampton) - Roope Road to Egan's Hill
April 1975	Calliope River Bridge
August 1976	Bauple Bypass
May 1977	Bajool Bypass
May 1984	Howard-Torbanlea Deviation
7 October 1986	Rockhampton Deviation – Yeppen Yeppen Crossing to Egan's Hill
14 September 1990	Maryborough Bypass
16 November 1991	Glenwood Deviation
5 July 1999	Wallaville Deviation - Tim Fischer Bridge
14 February 2001	Gunalda Range Deviation
August 2011	Isis River Bridge replacement
18 December 2012	Cooroy to Curra Upgrade Section B
28 October 2013	Rockhampton – Yeppen North
11 June 2014	Calliope Interchange
22 October 2015	Rockhampton - Yeppen South
5 May 2017	Cooroy to Curra Upgrade Section A
9 November 2017	Cooroy to Curra Upgrade Section C

Major upgrades: Rockhampton to Townsville[]

Date	Details
10 May 1973	Bowen - Don River Bridge
January 1975	Parkhurst - Ramsey Creek Bridge
23 December 1977	Mackay - Bakers Creek Deviation
12 July 1980	Mackay Deviation – Ron Camm Bridge
16 August 1980	Rockhampton Deviation – Neville Hewitt Bridge
29 October 1982	Marlborough-Sarina alignment change
September 1984	Thoopara - 3.4 km deviation and new bridge over O'Connell River
1991	Mackay City Gates - Realignment of Nebo Road at the City Gates with provision of an overpass to allow for future North Coast Railway realignment (railway realignment officially opened in 1993)
July 1993	Barratta - Collinsons Lagoon realignment
December 1993	Barratta - Middle and East Barratta Creek realignments
20 April 1994	Yaamba/Milman Deviation - new alignment with higher-level bridges at Alligator and Plentiful Creeks in response to 1991 Flood
1995	Townsville - Bridge Duplication
18 December 1998	Mackay - Ron Camm Bridge duplication
December 2009	Mackay - Boundary Road to Farrellys Lane duplication and intersection upgrade
2012	Mackay - Boundary Road to City Gates intersection upgrades
October 2013	Mackay - Farrellys Road to Temples Lane duplication and intersection upgrades
February 2015	Brandon - Sandy Corner to Collinsons Lagoon realignment for flood mitigation and cane rail overpass
October 2015	Townsville - Vantassel Street to Cluden Drive duplication, rail overpass and intersection upgrades
2019	Parkhurst - Major upgrades including Ramsey Creek Bridge duplication

Major upgrades: Townsville to Cairns[]

Date	Details
1959	Gordonvale/Aloomba Bypass Stage 1: Swan Creek to Riverstone Road, including Carl Wordsworth Bridge
1961	Gordonvale/Aloomba Bypass Stage 2: Mackey's Creek to Riverstone Road, bypass of Gordonvale
1962	Rollingstone Deviation
1963	Gordonvale/Aloomba Bypass Stage 3: Swan Creek to Leumann Road, bypass of Aloomba
1966	Gordonvale/Aloomba Bypass Stage 4: Leumann Road to Assman Road
1968	Bellenden Ker Deviation
28 September 1968	Ingham Deviation - John Row Bridge at Herbert River
December 1968	Bellenden Plains / Murray River Deviation - replaced in 2008 by Tully Deviation
October 1971	Townsville - Black River Bridge
9 July 1973	Innisfail Deviation – Centenary Bridge
1980s	Townsville - Partial realignment of Bruce Highway. Alignment shifted off of Ingham Road onto Woolcock Street between Charters Towers Road and Hugh Street
1981	Innisfail - Bridge
10 November 1984	Rollingstone Creek - High-level bridge
23 April 1987	Cardwell Range Deviation (South)
4 December 1987	Mutarnee - Ollera Creek Bridge and Mutarnee Deviation
17 October 1991	Babinda Deviation Stage 1: Lloyd's Corner/Stager Road to Munro Street
1992	Babinda Deviation Stage 2: Munro Street to Nelson Road
1993	Babinda Deviation Stage 3: Nelson Road to Frenchmans Creek
March 1998	Townsville Deviation – Woolcock Street extension. Alignment of National Highway 1 officially moved from Ingham, Charters Towers, Bowen Roads and Stuart Drive.
1999	Edmonton Deviation - realignment and four-laning
2002	Cairns - Ray Jones Drive to Sheehy Road six-laning
2004	Cairns - Sheehy Road to Foster Road six-laning
2008	Tully deviation
17 April 2009	Townsville Ring Road Stage 3 - National Highway A1 moved from Nathan and Duckworth Streets onto Shaw Road, continuing into The Ring Road.
20 April 2009	Higher-level Mulgrave River Bridge - Desmond Trannore Bridge
June 2009	Mount Low Overpass Townsville
1 November 2013	Cardwell Range Deviation (North)[46]
May 2014	Cairns Southern Access Upgrade – Stage 1
December 2016	Townsville Ring Road Stage 4 - National Highway A1 officially moved from Shaw Road
August 2017	Cairns Southern Access Upgrade – Stage 2: Foster Road to Robert Road six-laning

Projects[]

List of projects on the Bruce Highway

Project	Length (km)	Construction dates		Value	Status	Description	Distance from Brisbane (km)
		Start	End
Caloundra Road to Sunshine Motorway	7	18 May 2017[47]	Late 2020[47]	$929.3 million[47]	Under construction	Six lane motorway and new service road along existing alignment. Diverging diamond interchange at Caloundra Road.	84
Cooroy to Federal	13.5	July 2013[48]	May 2017[48]	$590 million[48]	Complete	Section A of Cooroy to Curra. Four lane divided highway, new alignment.	126
Federal to Traveston	12	September 2009[49]	December 2012[49]	$513 million[49]	Complete	Section B of Cooroy to Curra. Four lane divided highway, new alignment.	140
Yeppen South	2.8	27 November 2013[50]	2016[50]	$296 million[50]	Under construction	New elevated crossing across the Yeppen Floodplain as additional carriageway	628
Yeppen North	1		27 November 2013[51]	$85 million[51]	Complete	Safety and traffic flow improvements	631
Mackay Ring Road (Stage 1)	11.3	Mid 2017[52]	Late 2019[52]	$560 million[52]	In planning	Two lane highway, new alignment.	963
Townsville Ring Road (Section 4)	11	TBA	TBA	$200 million[53]	In planning	4 lane motorway, new alignment.	1366
Cairns Bruce Highway Upgrade (Sheehy Road to Ray Jones Drive)	3.4	2010[54]	April 2014[54]	$150 million[54]	Complete	New interchanges, widening of road	1696
Tiaro Bypass	8	TBA	TBA	$336 million[55]	In planning	4 lane motorway, new alignment	229

Highway towns[]

Travelling north, the following towns and small cities are found on (or very close to) the Bruce Highway.

Major intersections[]

M1[]

To avoid unnecessary length this table does not show any bridges (see River crossings below)

LGA	Location	km[56]	mi	Exit[57]	Destinations	Notes
Brisbane	Bald Hills	0	0.0	127	Gateway Motorway (M1) south-east  – Gold Coast, Brisbane Airport / Gympie Arterial Road (M3) south - Brisbane	Southern highway terminus; partial Y interchange: no access between Gateway Motorway and Gympie Arterial Road
Moreton Bay	Griffin–Murrumba Downs boundary	2.5	1.6	130	Dohles Rocks Road – Murrumba Downs, Griffin	Half-diamond interchange: northbound exit and southbound entrance
	Kallangur–Mango Hill– North Lakes tripoint	5.6	3.5	133	Anzac Avenue (State Route 71) – Petrie, Redcliffe	Parclo interchange
	North Lakes–Dakabin–Narangba tripoint	10.3	6.4	138	Boundary Road – Dakabin, Deception Bay	Parclo interchange
	Deception Bay–Burpengary boundary	14.1	8.8	142	Deception Bay Road (State Route 26) - east – Deception Bay / west – Burpengary, Narangba
	Burpengary	18.6	11.6	146	Uhlmann Road (State Route 60) - west – Burpengary, Morayfield / Uhlmann Road (no shield) - east – Burpengary East
	Burpengary–Morayfield boundary	20.3	12.6	—	Caboolture BP Travel Centre
	Morayfield	22.1	13.7	150	Buchanan Road – Morayfield	Dumbbell interchange
	Caboolture	24.5	15.2	152	Lower King Street west / Bribe Island Road east – Caboolture, Bribie Island	Parclo interchange; northern ramps merge with D'Aguilar Highway southern ramps
		26.1	16.2		D'Aguilar Highway (State Route 85) – Kilcoy	Trumpet interchange
	Caboolture–Elimbah boundary	29.6	18.4	157	Pumicestone Road – Elimbah, Toorbul, Donnybrook	Diamond interchange, upgrade currently under construction
	Elimbah	35.5	22.1	163	Steve Irwin Way (Tourist Drive 24) – Beerwah, Glass House Mountains
Sunshine Coast	Glass House Mountains– Coochin Creek boundary	43.2	26.8	171	Johnston Road – Mobil Service Centre, Wild Horse Mountain Lookout
	Beerwah–Coochin Creek boundary	51.7	32.1	179	Roys Road - west - Beerwah / east - Coochin Creek	Dumbbell interchange. This interchange replaces at-grade intersections with Roys Road and Bells Creek Road that are now closed.
	Meridan Plains–Glenview boundary	60.6	37.7	188	Steve Irwin Way (State Route 6 / Tourist Drive 24) west / Caloundra Road (State Route 6) east	Diverging diamond interchange, upgrade currently under construction
	Palmview	61.8– 64.0	38.4– 39.8	190	Fizzo Road north / Pignata Road south – Glenview, Palmview	Frontage roads
	Tanawha–Sippy Downs boundary	66.2	41.1	194	Sunshine Motorway (State Route 70) – Buderim, Mooloolaba
	Forest Glen–Chevallum boundary	71.5– 72.5	44.4– 45.0	200	Mons Road – Forest Glen, Buderim
	Woombye	73.7	45.8	201	Maroochydore Road (State Route 8) east / Nambour Connection Road west – Nambour, Woombye, Maroochydore, Big Pineapple	Roundabout interchange
	Bli Bli–Nambour boundary	80.7	50.1	208	Nambour–Bli Bli Road (State Route 10 east / Tourist Drive 23 west) – Nambour, Bli Bli, Mapleton, Sunshine Coast Airport	Dumbbell interchange
	Bli Bli–Parklands–Kulangoor[58] tripoint	83.0	51.6	210	Nambour Connection Road – Parklands	Partial parclo interchange: no northbound entrance ramp
	Yandina	87.4	54.3	215	Yandina–Coolum Road (State Route 11) – Yandina, Coolum Beach	Dumbbell interchange
	Eumundi	95.8	59.5	224	Eumundi–Noosa Road (State Route 12 east) – Eumundi, Noosa, Kenilworth	Hybrid interchange; northbound exit and southbound entrance only
	Eerwah Vale	98.5	61.2	—	Memorial Drive / Eumundi–Kenilworth Road – Eumundi, Noosa, Kenilworth	Hybrid interchange; southbound exit and northbound entrance only
Noosa	Cooroy	103	64	230	Myall Street (State Route 6) – Cooroy, Noosa	Trumpet interchange
Gympie	Traveston	127	79	253	Traveston Road - north-east  – Traveston / Old Bruce Highway - south-west  – Amamoor	Trumpet interchange
	Kybong	135– 137	84– 85	263	Old Bruce Highway - south  – Kybong	Route transition: northern end of M1, southern end of A1; No northbound exit from M1 to Old Bruce Highway southbound; No southbound entry to M1 from Old Bruce Highway northbound.
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi       Incomplete access       Route transition

A1[]

To avoid unnecessary length this table does not show any bridges (see River crossings below)

LGA	Location	km[59]	mi	Exit	Destinations	Notes
Gympie	Gympie	143	89		Mary Valley Road (State Route 51) – Kandanga
	Bells Bridge	158	98		Wide Bay Highway (State Route 49) – Kilkivan
Fraser Coast	Tinana	226	140		Gympie Road (State Route 57) – Maryborough, Hervey Bay
	Maryborough West / Maryborough midpoint	231	144		Maryborough Biggenden Road (State Route 86) - north-west  – Brooweena, Biggenden / Alice Street - south-east - Maryborough
Bundaberg	Childers	288	179		Isis Highway (State Route 52) south – Biggenden
	Apple Tree Creek–North Isis[60] boundary	295	183		Isis Highway (State Route 3) north – Bundaberg, Bargara	Partially grade separated
	Gin Gin	342	213		Gin Gin Road (State Route 3) – Bundaberg
Gladstone	Benaraby–Wurdong Heights[61] boundary	489	304		Gladstone–Benaraby Road (State Route 58) – Gladstone
	Calliope	501	311		Dawson Highway (State Route 60) – Calliope, Rolleston, Gladstone	Diamond interchange with additional looped ramp
	Mount Larcom	535	332		Gladstone–Mount Larcom Road (State Route 58) – Gladstone
Rockhampton	Gracemere–Port Curtis boundary	604	375		Burnett Highway (A3) – Mount Morgan, Dululu
	Port Curtis–Fairy Bower[62] boundary	606	377		Capricorn Highway (A4) – Gracemere, Emerald	Roundabout
	Rockhampton	611	380		Fitzroy Street to Rockhampton–Emu Park Road – Emu Park
	Parkhurst	619	385		Yeppoon Road (Tourist Drive 10) – Yeppoon
Mackay	Sarina	912	567		Sarina Homebush Road (State Route 5) - west  – Homebush, Eton
	Ooralea–Paget–West Mackay tripoint[63]	942	585		Peak Downs Highway (State Route 70) – Nebo, Eungella
	Hampden	972	604		Marian Hampden Road (State Route 5) - south  – Marian, North Eton
Whitsunday	Hamilton Plains	1,070	660		Shute Harbour Road (State Route 59) - north  – Airlie Beach, Shute Harbour
	Bowen	1,136	706		Peter Delamothe Road (State Route 77) - south  – Collinsville, Mount Coolon
Townsville	Stuart	1,322	821		Flinders Highway (A6) - south-west  – Charters Towers / Southern Port Road - north - South Townsville, Port of Townsville
	Cluden	1,324– 1,325	823– 823		Abbott Street (State Route 16) - north  – Idalia, Oonoonba, Townsville / Cluden Street - south - Stuart
	Cluden, Idalia, Wulguru, Annandale quadpoint	1,326	824		Stuart Drive - north-west - Townsville / south-east - Stuart
	Annandale, Douglas, Mount Stuart tripoint	1,331	827		University Road - north-west  – Garbutt	Junction of A1 and former Bruce Highway. (Southern end of Townsville Ring Road) No southbound exit to or entry from University Road.
	Bohle Plains	1,339– 1,340	832– 830		Hervey Range Road (State Route 72) - west  – Hervey Range / east  – Thuringowa Central
	Deeragun / Mount Low boundary	1,350	840		(former) Bruce Highway - east - Townsville	Junction of A1 and former Bruce Highway. (Northern end of Townsville Ring Road)
Johnstone	Belvedere–Goondi boundary	1,595	991		Palmerston Highway (State Route 25) – Millaa Millaa, Atherton
Cairns	Gordonvale	1,655	1,028		Gillies Highway (State Route 52) – Yungaburra, Atherton
	Cairns	1,679	1,043		Captain Cook Highway (National Route 1) – Mareeba, Mossman	Northern highway terminus
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi       Incomplete access

Route of former Bruce Highway through Townsville[]

The former Bruce Highway diverts from the A1 at the Annandale, Douglas, Mount Stuart tripoint (1,331 kilometres (827 mi) from start - see Major intersections - A1) and rejoins at the Deeragun / Mount Low boundary (1,350 kilometres (840 mi) from start) It runs north as University Road, crossing the Ross River via the 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 17 kilometres (11 mi), compared to almost 19 kilometres (12 mi) on the A1.

River crossings[]

The accompanying diagram shows the crossings of all named rivers by the Bruce Highway.

show v t Bruce Highway river crossings From North to South

Cairns Mulgrave River (Desmond Trannore Bridge) Russell River North Johnstone River ( Bridge) South Johnstone River (Jubilee Bridge) Tully River Murray River Herbert River (John Row Bridge) Black River Bohle River Ross River Townsville Haughton River Burdekin River (Burdekin Bridge) Proserpine River O'Connell River Pioneer River (Ron Camm Bridge) Mackay Fitzroy River (Yaamba/Milman border) Fitzroy River (Neville Hewitt Bridge) Rockhampton Calliope River Boyne River Kolan River Burnett River (Tim Fischer Bridge) Isis River (Isis River Bridge) Mary River Maryborough Maroochy River Caboolture River (Captain Whish Bridge) Pine River Brisbane

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):^[64]

• Cooroy
• Maryborough
• Gin Gin
• Childers
• Miriam Vale
• Mt Larcom
• Rockhampton
• Marlborough
• Carmila
• Mackay
• Proserpine
• Bowen
• Ayr
• Townsville
• Cardwell
• Tully
• Cairns

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.^[65] 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.^[66]

See also[]

• Freeways in Australia
• Freeways in Brisbane
• Freeways in Sunshine Coast
• Highways in Australia
• List of highways in Queensland

References[]

External links[]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bruce Highway.

• Australian Towns, Cities & Highways – Bruce Highway
• Bruce-Highway-Cooroy-to-Curra