Five months into the works package, operations onsite are progressing ahead of schedule with the project’s 1.6km southern bridge already on its way up.

“More than half of the 887 pylons that will hold the bridge between the Burnett Highway and the Yeppen roundabout have been put into place, creating what will be Queensland's second longest road bridge,” Infrastructure Minister Warren Truss said.

“We know that during floods the Bruce Highway south of Rockhampton can be cut for up to two weeks or more at a time, with major disruption to locals and massive economic consequences.

“To beat the floods, the fast pace of this upgrade is great news for the tourism and freight industries.”

Transport Minister Scott Emerson agreed with Truss, calling the rate of progress on construction of the bridge component a “major achievement”

“Being so far advanced at this stage of the upgrade means that we will be able to begin construction on the second bridge from the Yeppen roundabout to the Yeppen Lagoon bridge much sooner than expected,” he said.

“We are now planning to divert traffic off the existing highway in mid-September to allow construction to start.”

Federal Member for Capricornia Michelle Landry said the first of more than 300 bridge girders had been cast at the Egans Hill manufacturing yard in July, marking a key milestone for the project.

“Traditionally, large components such as concrete bridge piles and girders are manufactured at established plants and transported to the project site,” she said.

“This is the first infrastructure project in Central Queensland with a manufacturing yard established onsite. This approach is saving on transportation costs as the yard is just metres from where bridge materials will be lifted into position.”

The $296 million Bruce Highway Upgrade at Yeppen South is being jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland governments, investing $236 million and $60 million respectively.