$50 million upgrade provides smooth ride

APRIL 22, 2015: It has been my pleasure today to join with Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss to officially open the $50 million Sandy Corner to Collinsons Lagoon upgrade north of the Burdekin.This project has delivered significant improvements to safety, flood immunity and freight efficiency on the Bruce Highway, benefitting more than 7,000 vehicles each day.We've also provided jobs for 65 workers during its construction.The completed works provide 3km of new highway and widening of a further 2km and includes a realignment of the highway, a new southbound overtaking lane, intersection improvements and construction of an overpass which separates road and rail infrastructure.This stretch of the Bruce is now much easier for motorists and heavy vehicles to travel. Drivers will no longer be delayed by having to stop at the level crossing and the flood immunity works will help reduce the frequency and duration of road closures due to flooding.We're building a safer and more reliable Bruce Highway through our record $6.7 billion investment in projects along its length through our Infrastructure Investment Programme.The $50 million Sandy Corner to Collinsons Lagoon project has been jointly funded with the Australian Government committing $40 million and the Queensland Government $10 million.