If Queensland’s fickle weather and other interruptions don’t get in the way, the completed stretch of road both north and south should be completed in late 2023.

It just means commuters on the northern side of Brisbane and holiday-makers this summer en route to and from the Sunshine Coast, will have to put up with the long traffic snarls between Caboolture-Bribie Island Road and Steve Irwin Way at exit 163 that little bit longer.

But Transport Minister Mark Bailey is reassuring motorists that the project is gaining traction.

According to Bailey, drivers heading south on the Bruce Highway will be realigned on to a new, wider road between Six Mile Creek and Pumicestone Road in the next week.

Another milestone is soon to follow, he said, with the opening of the realigned Steve Irwin Way southbound entry ramp to the Bruce Highway to take place shortly.

Once the project is complete, the new ramp will flow directly to an additional third lane of the highway, offering much needed reprieve for motorists currently caught up in the traffic congestion.

With those two ‘milestones’ reached, a new phase of the project begins, following the switch of northbound Bruce Highway traffic onto the new southbound carriageway on July 7 between Caboolture-Bribie Island Road and Pumicestone Road.

The temporary diversion will be in place until early 2023 and allows for works to begin on building three northbound lanes and two bridges, taking the 11 kilometre stretch of the highway from Caboolture-Bribie Island Road to Steve Irwin Way from four to six lanes.

The $662.5 million upgrade is jointly funded by the Australian Government, with $530 million committed in 2020 during the term of the former Morrison Government, and the Queensland Government committing $132.5 million.

Federal Transport Minister Catherine King said the federal investment would transform what has been one of the most flood-prone and congested sections of the highway into a wider, safer and more flood resilient carriageway.

“This project and others like it are coming to life at a crucial time, when Queensland is experiencing rapid population growth,” King said.

“This project is part of our long-term partnership to upgrade the Bruce Highway, improving safety, flood resilience and capacity along the highway between Brisbane and Cairns.”

Bailey said the works were part of the Palaszczuk Government’s $29.7 billion infrastructure investment pipeline.

“The Palaszczuk Government is pushing on with the delivery of major infrastructure projects that will widen the Bruce Highway and get Queenslanders home sooner and safer,” he said.

“Widening this stretch between Caboolture and Beerburrum plays a key role in keeping traffic on Queensland’s longest and busiest highway flowing.”

Member for Pumicestone Ali King said 10 new bridges would be built during the life of the project, improving flood immunity for a major artery that all too often gets cut when heavy rain falls.

“Some of the original bridges at these locations were underwater during the unprecedented and ongoing rainfall we experienced earlier this year, and thanks to our investment we’ll have bigger, stronger and higher bridges in their places,” she said.