Daintree River crossing dredging works under way by Douglas Shire Council

Overnight digging at one of the state’s most iconic river crossings is likely to drag on longer than expected as a new plan is pitched to stop traffic chaos.

DREDGING work at one of the state’s most iconic river crossings is likely to drag into next week as a new plan is pitched to stop traffic chaos.

Douglas Shire Council, who own the Daintree River ferry, have been digging the iconic crossing from Tuesday after pressure tightened from Daintree and Cape Tribulation residents that they were leaving their run too late.

A council spokesman said they hoped to have it completed by the weekend, although one resident said “there’s no way that will happen.”

Heavy rains in April caused a build up of sand and silt at the Daintree River ferry, as dredging works commenced this week. Picture: Supplied.

While the commencement of the dredging was music to the ears of many business owners who were getting nervous at the delay following heavy rains in April, another maintenance issue on Thursday shut the ferry for three hours from 8pm to 11pm.

“It’s a complete mess,” said one Daintree resident, who preferred to remain anonymous.

It comes as Daintree River tour guide David White calls for traffic controllers to be put in place to help with expected “three hour lines” at the ferry in the school holiday peak in late June.

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Mr White operates the crocodile and nature guide business, Solar Whisper, which is based at the car park just south of the main ferry crossing, meaning his customers are forced to wait regardless of their ambition to get to the northern side.

“The school holidays in June into July is the busiest time of the year and there can be queues way up the corner of the highway, three-hour waits sometimes for people, and that is very frustrating and affects us badly,” he said.

The Douglas Shire Council owned Daintree River ferry service. Photo: Supplied.

“People have to wait to get to us, even if they don’t want to get to the ferry. They are still stuck.

“So I’m writing to the council to ask if they can look at putting on traffic controllers this season.

“When it is really busy, why can’t we have a couple of stop go people, some council workers on radios who can stop the traffic and allow people that want to get to the car park to get there.”

Mr White, who has made a living on the ancient river system for the best part of 30 years, said the dredging works at the crossing “should have been done by now.”

“I don’t know why they didn’t do it earlier,” he said.

“There’s more low tides coming so they’ll have to get it done in time.

“It usually takes a bit longer than a couple of days. The delays are very upsetting for the people that live up there (north of the river), for sure.”

Originally published as Daintree River crossing dredging works under way by Douglas Shire Council