The LNP plans a $33 billion Bruce Highway boost if it wins the next state election – taking the key regional route to four lanes from Cairns through to Gympie.

The massive 15-year construction effort is forecast to create an estimated 6820 full-time jobs a year, adding up to more than 100,000 jobs over the life of the project.

Opposition leader Deb Frecklington said Queensland companies would be given preference for contracts over interstate and international construction corporations – with tenders scaled to allow local small and medium-sized businesses to bid.

“With almost 200,000 Queenslanders out of work, we need major infrastructure projects to create jobs and drag us out of recession,” Ms Frecklington said.

“Four-laning the Bruce Highway will create the jobs we need right now, but it will also benefit Queensland for generations to come.

“The upgraded Bruce Highway will have a speed limit of 110kmh and will boost the economic productivity of regional Queensland and Brisbane too.”

An LNP Government would work with the Morrison Federal Government to secure an 80:20 federal-state funding arrangement to meet the $33 billion cost of the 15-year project.

Ms Frecklington said an LNP Government would immediately invest $50 million in planning for a four-lane Bruce Highway from Curra, just north of Gympie, to Cairns.

In addition, an LNP Government would increase the annual Bruce Highway budget by 125 per cent to $440 million, she said.

The Bruce Highway is a two-lane road for 1470km of its total 1650km length.

“Four-laning the Bruce Highway will improve safety, cut congestion, increase reliability and create jobs,” Opposition Transport Minister Steve Minnikin said.

“Labor announced a Bruce Highway Trust to look at ways to improve the road in 2017, but the trust’s first meeting only took place in July this year – that’s 33 months later. “