Major works on the way for Captain Cook Highway between Cairns and Smithfield
New bridges, increased six lane capacity, changed traffic lights, and a new cycleway across the Barron River have been revealed in TMR’s highway master plan. How to have your say on the proposal.
Cairns
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Thousands of northern suburbs commuters will have a safer, faster journey into the Cairns CBD under a preliminary masterplan for $359m in upgrades to the Captain Cook Highway.
New bridges, six lanes from Grove Street to the Smithfield Bypass, and upgraded signals at numerous intersections are all part of the proposal.
According to the preliminary plan for the project between Cairns and Smithfield, released on Tuesday, significant aspects of stage one of the project include the upgrade of Sheridan St to six lanes north of Grove St and three inbound lanes and two outbound lanes between Lilly St and Aeroglen Dr.
The plan is now open for public comment.
Stage one encompasses the stretch of road from the CBD to Aeroglen Dr.
It will also include the construction of new bridges at Saltwater Creek, with four lanes southbound and three northbound.
There will be changes to signalisation, whether that be with upgraded traffic lights at several intersections between the CBD and Aeroglen Dr or with the removal of unsafe unsignalised turning movements.
And access to Whitfield St from the highway at Aeroglen will be removed.
Turning to later stages of the masterplan, the Captain Cook Highway will be upgraded to six lanes between Aeroglen Dr and the Smithfield Bypass.
It will also involve the construction of new bridges across the Barron River and Thomatis Creek, with three lanes north and southbound.
And there’s good news for cyclists, with a new dedicated cycleway and bridges running from Arnold St through to the intersection with the Smithfield Bypass.
In an effort to increase flood immunity, the highway will be realigned between Thomatis Creek and Dillon Rd on a more southerly route.
The new official route shows the highway passing over one property on the banks of the creek after leaked TMR documents hinted at future land resumption last year.
Upgraded intersections with all roads to beach suburbs are also included in the plans.
Master planning, including a staged approach for the upgrades, is expected to be finalised by mid to late 2023.
Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said the $359m package was one of Far North Queensland’s most significant infrastructure projects.
“The Palaszczuk Labor Government is committed to making it easier to move around Queensland, which is why we’re investing $29.7bn in road and transport projects over the next four years,” he said.
Cairns MP Michael Healy said the highway upgrades would make it quicker and safer to travel around the Far North and would support more than 380 jobs in the region during construction.
“As part of the preliminary plan, Sheridan St north of Grove St will be expanded to six lanes, and intersections on the stretch will also be upgraded,” he said.
“I’d encourage anyone wanting to give feedback on the plans to do so.”
To provide feedback on the preliminary master plan for Cairns, you can use the online
consultation tool and click the “have your say” tab. .
You can also contact the project team on 1800 187 937 or email at C2S@tmr.qld.gov.au.
The consultation is open until February 28, 2023.
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Originally published as Major works on the way for Captain Cook Highway between Cairns and Smithfield
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