Major preparations are underway for a significant upgrade to Caboolture River Road, with the project expected to transform a 1.2-kilometre section into a four-lane road between Grant and Morayfield Roads.
Moreton Bay Council has allocated funding in its 2025/26 budget to start construction on the long-awaited improvements. The project comes as housing developments continue to expand along the corridor, particularly with the new Waraba community under development west of Caboolture.
Service relocation works are scheduled to begin in early to mid-2026, with road construction expected to follow later in the year. The project is anticipated to be completed by 2028, weather permitting.
What’s Being Built
The upgrade will widen Caboolture River Road to provide two traffic lanes in each direction with a central median. Key features include:
- Additional turning lanes at major intersections
- New traffic lights at Amy and Kenneth Streets
- Upgraded traffic signals at Grant Road and Morayfield Road
- New cycling and pedestrian paths on both sides of the road
- Changes to access at Ben Street and Lorebury Drive (left in/left out only)
The project also includes a new 60-space car park for Morayfield State School, supported by a student drop-off and pick-up zone. Work on the school car park is expected to be completed by early 2026.
Why It’s Happening
The upgrade responds to community concerns about traffic delays and safety. A Moreton Says survey found nearly 50 per cent of residents identified traffic congestion as their top transport issue in the face of rapid population growth.
Caboolture River Road serves as a critical east-west transport corridor for a region experiencing significant urban expansion. The Waraba area west of Caboolture is projected to eventually house 70,000 residents across approximately 30,000 homes.
Growth in and around Caboolture is expected to continue, with site works already underway for new communities at Waraba.
Funding Partnership
The project is being delivered through the South East Queensland City Deal Growth Areas Compact, a partnership between the Queensland Government and Moreton Bay Council.
The Queensland Government is contributing $71 million toward the project, with Moreton Bay Council adding $10 million. Economic Development Queensland oversees delivery of the Growth Areas Compact funding.
Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie said the government was proud to support this vital infrastructure for the growing region.
Land Acquisitions
Some land adjacent to the existing Caboolture River Road needs to be repurposed for the project works, including along Morayfield State School’s frontage. Acquisitions will proceed under the Acquisition of Land Act 1967, with council teams supporting affected stakeholders through the process.
The changes, along with the new signalised intersection at Kenneth Street, created an opportunity to include the school car park within the project. The new facility will feature accessible parking bays and tactile indicators for vision-impaired users.
What This Means For Caboolture
Caboolture River Road is a major connector for residents traveling between the western growth areas and established suburbs. The current two-lane configuration struggles to handle peak-hour traffic, leading to congestion and safety concerns.
The upgrade will provide increased traffic capacity, safer crossings for pedestrians and cyclists, and improved access to local amenities. For current residents, it means safer and more efficient daily commutes.
The project includes environmental sustainability measures such as tree and vegetation plantings along the upgraded sections. Design features like wider lanes, central medians and dedicated turning lanes aim to enhance safety for all road users.
Construction activities will use as much of the summer school break as possible to minimise impacts on the school community and road users.
More information about the Caboolture River Road upgrade is available at moretonbay.qld.gov.au/Services/Projects/Roads/Caboolture-River-Road.
Published 5-February-2026.
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