On 9 February 2017, Infrastructure Australia positively assessed the Bruce Highway Upgrade – Mackay Ring Road – Stage 1 initiative as a Priority Project on the Infrastructure Priority List (IPL).

The Stage 1 Mackay Ring Road project (MRRP) would construct a 2-lane, 11.3-kilometre highway bypass of urban areas in Mackay with 1-in-100 year flood immunity. Upgrading the Bruce Highway to improve connectivity between Queensland’s coastal cities is a Priority Initiative on the IPL.