52 New Bruce Highway Tenders Are Coming to Market 

Last updated: July 2026

52 New Bruce Highway Tenders Are Coming to Market 

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Queensland road contractors now have two documents that map the next 12 months of work. In June, the Australian and Queensland governments confirmed 52 new tenders under the $9 billion Bruce Highway Targeted Safety Program, releasing between 1 July 2026 and 30 June 2027. Transport and Main Roads has also published its Proposed Major Works to Competitive Tender Report for the same period, listing every open-tender contract worth $1 million or more, with indicative values, tender quarters and prequalification levels.

Read together, they tell you what work is coming, when it goes to market, and whether your business can bid for it.

The 52 Bruce Highway safety packages

The safety program tenders cover 40 construction and 12 design packages from Gympie to Cairns: more than 200 kilometres of wide centre line treatment, 100 kilometres of pavement strengthening, five overtaking lanes, 13 intersection upgrades, two rest areas, and replacement of three narrow bridges in Far North Queensland at Five Mile, Little Moresby and Boobah creeks. Mackay/Whitsunday district carries the largest share, including most of the design packages between St Lawrence and Ayr.

TMR will release these through the program's dedicated construction and design panels. If you sit on a panel, you compete in a limited field and packages will drop in stages across the full year, so watch release dates and respond fast. If you don't, target the supply chains instead: each package needs subcontractors, plant hire, traffic management, line marking, concrete, earthworks, surveying and environmental services in the district where crews mobilise.

The federal government contributes $7.2 billion to the program and Queensland $1.8 billion, with works running to 2030. The June announcement lists every package by district and highway section.

The headline open tenders

The competitive tender report covers contracts that go to open market rather than the safety panels. The largest for 2026-27:

The Coomera Connector EOI stands out. At over $500 million, Stage 2 from Pimpama to Coomera opens with an expression of interest this quarter, and early tenderer involvement means the winning team helps shape the design. Tier ones will lead, but EOI stage is when they lock in their subcontractor and supplier relationships, so Gold Coast businesses should start those conversations now.

Note the two betterment packages at Ollera Creek and Plantation Creek. Funded under the 2025 Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements, they rebuild flood-damaged sections of the Bruce to a higher standard, and at $50 million to $100 million each they sit outside the 52 safety packages. The Bruce pipeline for 2026-27 runs wider than the safety program alone.

Work for smaller contractors

The report also lists a steady stream of sub-$10 million contracts, and many require no prequalification at all. Wide Bay/Burnett and South West districts each release two programmed maintenance and reseal contracts with nil prequalification. Darling Downs calls four reseal packages (Toowoomba/Lockyer Valley, Western Downs, Southern Downs, Goondiwindi) at F5 level in the July-September quarter. Maritime Safety Queensland adds boating infrastructure work at Thursday Island, Weipa, Noosa, Shute Harbour, Scarborough and Gladstone, most of it under $10 million with nil prequalification.

For a regional civil or maintenance contractor wanting a first direct contract with TMR, these packages are the entry point. Reseal and asphalt programs recur each year, so a good delivery record positions you for the next round.

Reading the prequalification codes

Each contract lists indicative requirements under TMR's prequalification system (Transport Infrastructure Project Delivery System, Volume 3). R levels cover roadworks, B bridges, A asphalt, and F is financial capacity in millions. An F5 reseal package needs $5 million in financial capacity; the Coomera Connector needs F150+ and the highest civil ratings. TMR confirms final levels after detailed design, so check whether marginal upgrades to your rating would open the next tier of work. Values and timing in the report are indicative and some projects still depend on planning approvals or budget confirmation.

What to do now

Match your prequalification level against the packages in your district and shortlist what you can bid this financial year. Set up alerts on the TMR tenders page, QTenders or an aggregator like Australian Tenders. Each district office in the report takes direct enquiries, and the Deputy Regional Director or District Director contact is listed against every region. If the head contracts sit above your rating, approach the likely tier one and tier two bidders before tenders close rather than after award, when supply chains have already formed.

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Bruce Highway safety tenders announced 8 June 2026; TMR Proposed Major Works to Competitive Tender Report covers 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027. Values, timing and prequalification levels are indicative and subject to tender processes.

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Sources: Joint media release, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government; TMR Proposed Major Works to Competitive Tender Report 2026-27.

Australian Tenders monitors procurement opportunities from government agencies across Australia, including federal, state and territory departments, authorities and government-owned organisations. By bringing opportunities together in one place, we help businesses navigate the procurement landscape, identify relevant tenders and stay informed about the policies and spending priorities shaping future contract opportunities.