Construction has started on two sections of the Bruce Highway between Ingham and Cardwell in North Queensland, with road widening and drainage improvements intended to improve safety and reduce wet-season disruption.
A joint government announcement dated 20 October 2026 identifies the two sections as Gairloch to Ripple Creek and the Ingham–Halifax–Bemerside Road/Cardwell Range section.
Works between Gairloch and Ripple Creek include widening and drainage improvements. The second section will also be widened, with both projects incorporating road safety improvements.
Flood resilience on a freight route
The corridor connects communities and freight movements through North Queensland. Flooding during the wet season can interrupt road access between Ingham and Cardwell, affecting regional deliveries and through traffic.
Governments say the projects are intended to strengthen vulnerable sections and reduce the risk of lengthy closures. They have not published a specific completion date or combined contract value in the announcement.
Different funding streams
The first stage between Gairloch and Ripple Creek is jointly funded through efficiencies under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements. The other works form part of the $1 billion Bruce Highway Safety Package, funded 80 per cent by the Commonwealth and 20 per cent by Queensland.
These works are distinct from the separately described Gairloch Floodway project. The scopes and budgets should not be combined.
Source: Joint Commonwealth–Queensland media release, 20 October 2026.