Queensland Premier Campbell Newman inspected the project yesterday and praised crews for their efforts in the aftermath of last month’s extreme weather.

“The cyclone demonstrates how and why this project is so important in terms of providing access to Cardwell,” Newman said.

“It also underscores the necessity to rebuild in such a way that provides some level of protection from weather events such as this one in the future.

“Already, we have identified an initial round of $1.1 billion in recovery work that will be put to market in the next five months as we get on with the job of repairing damaged infrastructure.

“We owe it to the community and to travellers who use this stretch of road to rebuild better than before.”

Construction started in August last year to repair parts of the Bruce Highway and foreshore that were damaged during previous cyclone Yasi.

Almost 70% of the highway’s southbound lane has been completed and work has started on the northbound lane.

About 25% of the 900m of a rock wall, designed to ensure parts of the road and foreshore undergoing reconstruction will be more resilient to future natural disasters, has been completed.

Pathways, revegetation, landscaping, drainage works and seating are all taking shape. The project is due to be completed by the end of the year.

This reconstruction work is being delivered under the Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements, a joint Australian government and Queensland government initiative