Commuter Alert: Heavy Delays Expected on Steve Irwin Way and Mooloolah River Interchange This Tuesday

Morning Commute Overview

Commuters across the Sunshine Coast should prepare for a busy Tuesday morning on the roads. For those traveling on Tuesday, 10 March 2026, the primary areas of concern involve significant infrastructure projects that are currently in active construction phases. While the major arterial roads remain open, reduced speed limits and lane narrowings are in place across several key zones. Peak hour congestion is expected to be heaviest on the Bruce Highway southbound between 6:30 AM and 8:30 AM, particularly through the traditional bottleneck at the Caloundra Road interchange.

Major Roadworks and Projects

The Mooloolah River Interchange Upgrade (MRIU) Stage 1 is currently ramping up its early works program. Motorists using the Sunshine Motorway and Nicklin Way should be aware of changed traffic conditions near Mountain Creek and Mooloolaba. Early works including land clearing and service relocations are visible, and the temporary carpark on Brisbane Road remains closed. Drivers are advised that Seriata Way is no longer available as an active transport link, and pedestrians should follow the designated detours via Lady Musgrave Drive.

Significant delays are also forecast for Steve Irwin Way. As part of the Beerburrum to Nambour Rail Upgrade (B2N) Stage 1, construction activities are concentrated between Beerburrum and Beerwah. Commuters can expect the following:

• Reduced speed limits between Endeavour Road and Roys Road.
• Increased heavy vehicle movements as workers and equipment access the rail corridor.
• Potential lane closures or flagging operations during off-peak hours to facilitate material deliveries.
• Standard day works are scheduled from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM, meaning the morning and afternoon peaks will be directly impacted by the work zone restrictions.

Bruce Highway and Local Hotspots

On the Bruce Highway, the stretch from Caloundra Road to the Sunshine Motorway remains a high-priority work zone. While the massive six-lane upgrade project is progressing, temporary lane shifts are in place. Northbound traffic typically experiences a significant crawl between 3:30 PM and 5:30 PM, but morning commuters heading toward Brisbane should also allow an additional 15 to 20 minutes of travel time to account for construction-related slow-downs. Locally, minor roadworks are reported on Lewis Street in Caloundra, where lane reductions may cause brief queuing during the school drop-off period.

Public Transport and Rail Updates

Sunshine Coast line rail services are currently scheduled to run to their regular weekday timetable. While a major multi-line track closure is planned for early April, there are no reported closures for today. However, passengers using bus services that transit through Steve Irwin Way or Mooloolaba should stay informed via the Translink app, as road construction may lead to minor secondary delays for local bus routes. Commuters are encouraged to plan their journeys ahead and consider leaving earlier than usual to mitigate the impact of the ongoing infrastructure transformations across the region.