
1 minute read
Big response to highway plan
l CAIRNS
| Nick Dalton
MORE than 2000 people have responded to calls to comment on the $359 million Captain Cook Highway upgrade between the Cairns CBD and Smithfield.
Consultation closed on February 28 with a Department of Transport and Main Roads spokesman saying the process to comment on the preliminary masterplan was “well received”.
“Several community displays have been held across the region over two weeks, where we engaged with about 400 customers,” he said.
“As at February 27, we have received 100 contributions via our online consultation tool with 2167 individual votes on the contributions.
“The community feedback will be used to inform the planning for the project which is expected to be complete in late 2023.”
Key features highlighted in the preliminary planning include improvements to ease congestion and improve safety.
Queensland Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said the master planning, including a staged approach for the upgrades, was expected to be finalised by mid to late 2023.
“Key features of preliminary plans include improvements to ease congestion and improve safety,” he said.


“The $359 million Captain Cook Highway package is one of Far North Queensland’s most significant infrastructure projects, so it’s great to see we’ve taken another important step towards getting works underway.
Federal Transport Minister Catherine King said the preliminary master plan provided “long-term, multi-modal, transport planning for an efficient link between Cairns and the growing northern suburbs population”.
“Extensive consultation with impacted property owners and community engagement for the preliminary master plan along the 15.5-kilometre corridor is underway,” she said.
“A detailed program of construction timeframes will be developed once the staging options have been identified.



“Like the staged approach to upgrade the Bruce Highway on Cairns Southern Access Corridor, implementation of the delivery of the Captain Cook Highway, Cairns CBD to Smithfield upgrade is proposed to occur over 25 years.”
Member for Cairns Michael Healysaid not only would the highway upgrades make it far quicker and safer to get around the Far North, they would also support over 380 jobs during construction.
“As part of the preliminary plan, Sheridan Street north of Grove Street will be expanded to six lanes, and intersections on the stretch will also be upgraded,” he said.
Member for Barron River Craig Crawford said the upgrades, alongside other road projects like the recently completed $164 million Smithfield Bypass, would make it much easier to move around the Far North.
“They come as part of the Palaszczuk Labor Government’s almost $1.6 billion investment in road and transport projects in Far North Queensland over the next four years, supporting 1440 good, secure jobs in the region.”