Tribune’s note

The Minister, Senator Green, announced 22 new contracts under the $9 billion Bruce Highway Targeted Safety Program on 27 March 2026, marking a significant procurement step for the joint Australian-Queensland initiative [TA-260327-infras-33d18aa9d28a:m259819]. The release comprises five construction procurement contracts and 17 design contracts targeting priority safety works along the Bruce Highway corridor between Gympie and Cairns.

The program operates on an 80:20 Commonwealth-state funding split between the Albanese and Crisafulli governments. To date, eight projects have been completed and 17 are underway, with a further 13 construction projects beginning to roll out from early 2026. The new contracts will deliver over 100 kilometres of wide centre line treatments, 50 kilometres of pavement strengthening and new overtaking lanes, five narrow bridge upgrades in north Queensland, road widening, audio tactile line marking improvements, and upgrades to multiple intersections and rest areas [TA-260327-infras-33d18aa9d28a:m259819].

Contractors are to be appointed progressively from April 2026. The announcement consolidates a pattern of staged delivery messaging on a program of substantial scale, with the physical scope of these contracts — spanning road surface treatments, bridge upgrades, and driver amenity improvements — reflecting a broad safety-corridor approach rather than discrete project announcements.

Primary records (1)

The official records this note draws on — the raw primary documents themselves, as published.

MediaBruce Highway upgrades forge ahead as 22 new contracts hit market under targeted safety programNita GreenFriday 27 March 2026