Motorists in Bracken Ridge are set to see one of Queensland’s busiest transport corridors transformed, following the confirmation of a Gateway to Bruce Upgrade (G2BU) worth $2 billion. The project will widen lanes, ease bottlenecks at Pine River, and improve safety for more than 150,000 daily motorists travelling between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast.
Project Timeline and Scope
According to the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR), construction is due to begin in 2026. Stage 1 covers the Bruce Highway between the Gateway Motorway and Dohles Rocks Road, adding six lanes in each direction, new ramps, and collector-distributor roads. Stage 2, now in detailed design, will deliver two new bridges over the Pine River, dedicated active transport paths, and improved flood resilience.
Residents in Bracken Ridge and surrounding suburbs can expect reduced congestion and safer connections to local roads once the works are complete. TMR notes the upgrade is designed to separate local and through traffic, which will cut the risk of crashes and reduce time lost in traffic. Local access routes such as Gympie Arterial Road and Bracken Ridge Road are expected to see smoother traffic flow.
Bracken Ridge sits about 18 km north of the Brisbane CBD and is a growing suburb with nearly 17,500 residents. The area’s daily traffic funnel through the Gateway Motorway, merging with the Bruce Highway — a route used by commuters, freight trucks and local drivers alike. This patchwork of road users often leads to bottlenecks and weaving, especially around the Bracken Ridge curve and surrounding interchanges. Without improvements, travel times are set to worsen as traffic climbs more than 50 per cent by 2041.
Stages of the Upgrade
Community consultation has been underway since 2023, with feedback collected from residents, businesses, and commuters. Concerns about property resumptions, noise, and environmental impacts have been addressed in part through design adjustments. TMR has published a property impacts fact sheet and consultation summary online, while ongoing updates are available through its Have Your Say portal.
Planning has wrapped up and procurement is underway for a design‑and‑construct contract. The project includes two linked upgrades:
- Bracken Ridge to Pine River: This segment will add extra motorway lanes, improve connections with Bracken Ridge Road and the Deagon Deviation, reshape the sharp Bracken Ridge curve for a safe 100 km/h design, build the Wyampa Road bridge, and introduce pedestrian‑bike paths on the motorway’s northern side.
- Gateway Motorway to Dohles Rocks Road (Stage 1 & 2): Initially, extended north‑facing ramps will be built from Dohles Rocks Road to Anzac Avenue. Stage 2 includes collector–distributor roads on both sides of the Bruce Highway, two new bridges over the Pine River, an active transport path across the river, and wildlife‑friendly underpasses.
TMR says it is considering noise barriers and design adjustments. Emergency services stations in Bracken Ridge and Sandgate will be relocated locally to keep response times steady. Environmental protections, particularly near the Tinchi Tamba wetlands, include fauna fencing and possible underpasses.
Funding and Delivery
Australia and Queensland jointly fund the project as part of the Bruce Highway Upgrade Program. Procurement planning has already begun, with contract details listed on the Infrastructure Pipeline. Construction contracts are set to be awarded before the start of works.
Published 25-Aug-2025
