8 AUGUST 2015: A BRUCE Highway fix at Yellow Gin Creek (between Bowen and Ayr) will create around 100 jobs over the life of the project. I announced today that Seymour Whyte Constructions was awarded the contract for the $45 million upgrade that will help flood-proof the Bruce Highway just south of Home Hill. Bringing jobs into the region will be a boost for the local economy when it is badly needed. The Liberal National Government is doing what it can to bring forward projects in its $6.7 billion commitment to fix the Bruce Highway. The Burdekin benefited from the jobs and economy spin-off associated with the works to the north of Brandon and work on the Yellow Gin upgrade will be a welcome project for the region.The Australian Government is providing $36 million towards construction, with the Queensland Government providing the remaining $9 million.Improving the flood immunity of the creek crossing will make the Bruce Highway safer and more dependable for industry, tourists and locals. More than 3,000 vehicles every day – almost a quarter of which are heavy vehicles carrying regional and interstate freight – will benefit from this project. The Yellow Gin Creek Upgrade is part of the Australian and Queensland governments’ $8.5 billion commitment over the next decade to fix the Bruce Highway.The project would involve replacing the existing low-level floodway crossing over Yellow Gin Creek with a new raised bridge, plus upgrades to the highway on the approaches to the bridge. Seymour Whyte will set up on-site soon and we expect works to start by late September. A side track will be built alongside the existing highway to ensure traffic disruptions are minimised during the works.Construction of the bridge upgrade is expected to be completed in late 2016, weather permitting.