Cairns traffic: Kewarra Beach highway known as danger zone

A stretch of highway that claimed the life of a 29-year-old man has been labelled the “Bermuda Triangle of Cairns traffic”.

Sun Pacific College students lay flowers at a memorial for Chinese student Ping Wang, who was struck by a car and killed south of the Kewarra Beach roundabout on the Captain Cook Highway. Ping Wang's mother Junfang Yang mourns the loss of her daughter, comforted by student Mengjia Zuo (left), who was with Ms Wang at the time of her death. PICTURE: BRENDAN RADKE

A STRETCH of highway that claimed the life of 29-year-old Sam Hendry has been labelled the “Bermuda Triangle of Cairns traffic”.

Division 9 councillor Brett Olds was mystified as to why the Captain Cook Highway leading to the roundabout at Kewarra Beach was prone to fatalities.

“It is a straight shot – perhaps people are prone to speeding,” Cr Olds said.

“There is no legitimate reason why it is such a dangerous piece of road; it is an anomaly, the Bermuda Triangle of Cairns traffic.”

Sam Hendry

Sgt Scott Ezard of the Forensic Crash Unit said the death of Mr Hendry and that of Sun College student Ping Wang in 2019 were due to “different mechanisms”.

“The pedestrian fatality was an issue of crossing the highway and this was a matter of driving,” Sgt Ezard said.

A man in his 20s was killed in a fatal rollover near the Kewarra Beach roundabout on the Captain Cook Highway. PICTURE: PETER MARTINELLI

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Both Mr Hendry and Ms Ping were killed on the southbound lane.

To reduce congestion on the highway, Cairns Regional Council has proposed a separate road link between Kewarra Beach and Trinity Beach.

The proposed alignment would see Miami Road in Kewarra Beach extended to join with Baler and Cayley streets in Trinity Beach. Consultation on the link road is open until 5pm on September 4.

To have your say and for more details go to cairns.qld.gov.au/council/have-say/open/link

Originally published as Cairns traffic: Kewarra Beach highway known as danger zone