Youngs Crossing Upgrade Reaches Bridge Milestone in Joyner

The Youngs Crossing upgrade in Joyner has reached a new construction milestone, with the first of 83 precast concrete girders installed for the flood-resilient bridge as the project approaches its halfway point.



More than 20,000 vehicles use Youngs Crossing each day, making the corridor an important part of the South East Queensland road network. The existing crossing has also been affected by flooding, with closures contributing to delays, diversions and congestion on surrounding roads.

The wider upgrade extends for more than one kilometre from Protheroe Road to Dayboro Road. It includes an approximately 200-metre, four-lane bridge west of the existing road crossing, three signalised intersections and improved pedestrian and active transport connections.

Youngs Crossing Upgrade Enters Girder Installation Stage

The precast girders will form the foundation of the new bridge deck, with deliveries continuing over the coming weeks.

Some measure up to 27 metres long and are expected to arrive intermittently over about five weeks. Each will be transported under escort at night via Dayboro Road through Old Petrie Town before being lifted into position by crane during daylight hours.

During August, crews will begin low-impact site set-up and preparation activities from 5:30 am. Once the girders arrive, crane installation is scheduled to begin from 6:30 am.

The size of the loads will create some traffic impacts during transportation. Oversize and over-mass vehicle movements will therefore be scheduled during off-peak traffic periods where possible.

Youngs Crossing upgrade
Photo Credit: Supplied

August Works Continue Around Joyner

Girder installation forms part of a wider program of construction activity continuing through August.

Saturday and early morning concrete works are scheduled on the western side of Youngs Crossing Road. Saturday activities are expected between 7 am and 3 pm and include steel fixing, formwork and concrete surface cutting.

Other scheduled work includes retaining wall formwork and reinforcement, underground service and pit installation on Protheroe Road and Dayboro Road, intersection and traffic signal works, earthworks around the bridge, telecommunications commissioning and vegetation management.

Some work will also take place at night where required for safety and to maintain traffic flow. Nearby residents and businesses will be notified when out-of-hours installation activities may affect them.

Traffic Controls Remain Along Youngs Crossing Road

A temporary 40 km/h speed limit remains in place along Youngs Crossing Road while construction continues. Electronic message signs are positioned at locations along the project corridor and will be updated as works progress.

Motorists may experience delays and are required to follow traffic signage and instructions around the work zone.

Public access to Youngs Crossing Park and the waterhole remains unavailable during construction of the new bridge and road for safety reasons.



Seymour Whyte is the principal contractor for the project. Construction activities remain subject to weather and construction conditions, with completion expected in late 2027.

Published 5-August-2026

Koala Alert at Youngs Crossing Upgrade Puts Joyner Drivers on Notice

A single koala in a roadside tree near Youngs Crossing has become a sharp reminder that this major road upgrade is unfolding in a living habitat, not just a construction corridor. A community warning from Moreton Bay Koala Rescue has put local drivers on notice, urging them to slow down near the work zone at Joyner, as the animal could come down and try to cross the road. 



The warning followed a Facebook post from Moreton Bay Koala Rescue on 1 April, which flagged a koala near Youngs Crossing Road and asked motorists to drive with care.

By April 15, construction at Youngs Crossing was still active, with the City of Moreton Bay listing ongoing bridge work, piling, earthworks, traffic signal works and vegetation management on its official project page, last updated in April 2026. 

The combination of wildlife movement and heavy machinery makes this local issue feel very urgent. 

Youngs Crossing Road in Joyner is part of a major upgrade running from Protheroe Road to Dayboro Road, on the section that crosses the North Pine River. Council describes it as one of the city’s largest road projects, with reduced speed zones in place, including a temporary 40 km/h limit along Youngs Crossing Road during construction. 

The koala sighting is not just a one-off roadside moment for residents. It taps into a broader fear that animals are being pushed closer to traffic as work continues through an area they already use. In project material for March 2026, Seymour Whyte, working on behalf of the city, said works would include retaining walls, temporary pavements, drainage, piling, crane operations, traffic signal works and vegetation management, with some activity starting from 4:00 a.m. and other work taking place at night when needed. 

The rescue group’s role also helps explain why the post carried weight in the community. Moreton Bay Koala Rescue says it runs a free 24/7 rescue and ambulance service for koalas across the region and asks people to report sick, injured, displaced or healthy koalas when they are spotted in risky situations. 

A koala is left injured after a car hit. The rescue team brought the animal to the wildlife hospital.
Photo Credit: Moreton Bay Koala Rescue/Facebook

The bigger public message is simple: drivers passing through Youngs Crossing are not just moving through a road project, but through an area where wildlife still needs room to survive. 

While the upgrade is designed to improve safety, traffic flow and flood resilience between Petrie and Joyner, the koala sighting shows why many locals remain focused on what is happening at ground level right now, especially when construction and wildlife share the same narrow space. 



Published 16-April-2026