Dubbed ‘the second Bruce’, RACQ has long advocated for the project to provide an additional freight corridor through regional Queensland and help free up capacity on the notorious Bruce Highway.

Managing Director and Group CEO David Carter said the Club welcomed the State Government’s $107m commitment to get early works started.

“Our members tell us loud and clear that they’re consistently unhappy with the Bruce Highway and we need an alternative route through regional Queensland, particularly during extreme weather events,” Mr Carter said.

“If and when it’s completed, it will take a lot of pressure off the Bruce which gets banged up each and every year from heavy use and natural disasters.

“We need important road upgrades, like those proposed in the Inland Freight Route. Widening narrow sections, improving surface conditions and providing proper flood immunity, particularly in regional Queensland, will help improve safety.”

The Inland Freight Route is proposed to run from Mungindi at the Queensland border north to Charters Towers and would upgrade the existing Carnarvon, Dawson and Gregory Highways.

Mr Carter said RACQ was concerned by the Federal Government’s recent Infrastructure Review which flagged a reduction in the funding split for nationally significant projects, from 80:20 to a 50:50 model.

“We don’t want to see any shift in funding which could delay this project any further. Last year Queensland recorded its worst road toll in more than a decade, and unfortunately this year is not looking much better,” he said.

“It’s forecast the Inland Freight Route could reduce truck movements on the Bruce by up to half so if it gets finished that’s great news for safety, motorists, productivity and tourism.”

In October 2023 RACQ conducted a regional inspection tour of the Inland Freight Route to determine the improvements needed to make it a viable option to the Bruce Highway.