To the Chagrin of Whitsunday locals, works along the Bruce Highway between Ayr and Proserpine have halted as the main contractor has gone into voluntary administration.
WBHO Infrastructure, the main contractor for the $46 million Bruce Highway upgrades, closed its construction works along the region’s main highway in late February.
The South African construction company has shut down operations in Australia due to the hard-line government response to COVID-19 making the businesses Australian arm “unsustainable.”
Its roadwork crews downed tools and walked off three job sites on February 25, ceasing work along three Bruce Highway upgrade projects.
The company was delivering the $38.8 million Emu Creek to Drays Road upgrade, the $8.03 million Bowen Connection Road upgrade and the $22 million dollar works between Bowen and Ayr.
Despite work abruptly finishing, the reduced speed limits have remained in place which is causing confusion for many motorists.
Swaths of the Bruce Highway from Proserpine to Bowen have reduced speed limits of 40 and 60 kilometres per hour.
Whitsunday Deputy Mayor, Mike Brunker questioned this at the council meeting last week, asking what could be done to increase speed limits to a safe 80 kilometres per hour.
Director of Infrastructure Services Whitsunday Regional Council Adam Hagy said he has already held meetings with Transport and Main Roads (TMR) who are still assessing the issue.
Council asked whether they could undertake safe works, but Mr Hagy said they were still live construction sites and possession of them falls under WBHO, meaning council would need approval from TMR.
Transport and Main Roads in a statement have said that “although road users may not see construction underway as they travel through these sites, reduced speed limits may need to remain due to changed road conditions.”
The construction was planned for completion by late 2022, and there is no confirmation for a restart date.
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