A ground-breaking US interchange design proven to improve road safety will be a key part of a major Queensland road project. 

The contract was awarded this week for a $929.3 million upgrade to the Bruce Highway between Caloundra Road and the Sunshine Motorway.

Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Darren Chester and Queensland Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey announced a Fulton Hogan Seymour Whyte joint venture had won the contract for the project, which aims to reduce congestion and travel time for motorists.

The project involves widening the highway to six lanes, as well a major upgrade to the Sunshine Motorway interchange.

It will also involve reconfiguring the Caloundra Road Interchange to a Diverging Diamond Interchange (DDI) – the first of its kind to be implemented in Australia. 

Read intouch's story on DDIs in the US here. 

The Caloundra Road Interchange is a hot-spot for road accidents –  it sees the most crashes on the Bruce Highway, Chester says.

"It urgently needs a new approach to traffic management for the roughly 60,000 vehicles that use it every day," he explains. 

“The DDI design is a first for Australia, and could be used in future projects across the country. It has been used with great success in the US since 2009 and will improve safety for traffic moving between the Bruce Highway and Caloundra Road.”

This isn't the first time the design has been considered in Australia. WA Main Roads is investigating the suitability of a DDI project, with help from the Curtin Monash Accident Research Centre (CMARC) and ARRB, who are testing whether the design will prove too confusing for Perth motorists.

Minister Bailey, who was onsite today, said the upgrade to the Bruce Highway had also seen community feedback incorporated into the design layout.

Federal Member for Fisher Andrew Wallace said the design will see motorists on Caloundra Road seamlessly cross from driving on the left side of the road to the right side of the road as they negotiate the interchange.

“The benefit of this crossing is that right-turning traffic does not have to give way to opposing traffic, making the highway both safer and faster for Caloundra Road motorists,” Mr Wallace said.

“Motorists will then switch back to standard left-side driving on the other side of the interchange.”

Preliminary construction is anticipated to start by the end of 2016, with major construction expected to start in mid-2017 and be completed in 2020, weather permitting.

The Australian Government is providing $743.4 million to the project, with the Queensland Government committing $185.9 million.