Seymour Whyte Constructions has secured an AUD45m ($33.2m) contract to build a more flood resistant Bruce Highway as part of the Yellow Gin Creek upgrade project south of Ayr in Queensland, Australia.

The Australian Government is providing AUD36m ($26.6m) towards construction, while the remaining AUD9m ($6.6m) is contributed by the Queensland Government.

"The works will improve a 1.6km stretch of the highway, making it safer and more reliable."

Australia Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Warren Truss said: "Improving the flood immunity of the creek crossing will make the Bruce Highway safer and more dependable for industry, tourists and locals.

"More than 3,000 vehicles every day — almost a quarter of which are heavy vehicles carrying regional and interstate freight — will benefit from this project.

"The Yellow Gin Creek Upgrade is part of the Australian and Queensland governments’ AUD8.5bn ($6.2bn) commitment over the next decade to fix the Bruce Highway."

Scope of work under the project will include replacing the existing low-level floodway crossing over Yellow Gin Creek with a new raised bridge as well as carrying out upgrades to the highway on the approaches to the bridge.

The project will see construction of a side track alongside the existing highway to ensure minimised traffic disruptions during the upgrade works.

Member for Dawson George Christensen said: "The works will improve a 1.6km stretch of the highway, making it safer and more reliable.

"Around 100 direct jobs will be supported over the life of the project, providing valuable employment opportunities for locals."

Construction of the bridge upgrade will start this September and complete in late 2016.