Giant Cairns bypass is a ‘brainfart’ says councillor

Motorists and businesses have endured many months of congestion and bottlenecks with a major road upgrade under way – and it is set to open on Thursday.

THE long-awaited $164m Smithfield Bypass is set to open on November 25 – but Cairns Regional Council division nine councillor Brett Olds has labelled it “the most expensive parking lot in Australia”.

He said the bypass would not improve travel time and would create hazardous conditions at McGregor Rd roundabout.

“The design is even worse than I imagined, there are stop lights in every direction – it is the most expensive parking lot in Australia,” Cr Olds said.

He said the state government should have partnered with the federal government to address issues on the Captain Cook Highway with congestion starting at Airport Ave in North Cairns.

“It is a brainfart, they came out with it about four weeks before the state election,” Cr Olds said.

Aerial view of construction roadworks of the northern end of the Smithfield bypass road and overpass flyover at the McGregor Road roundabout, Smithfield. Picture: Brendan Radke

The Cairns Post reported the bypass was actually announced in July 2017.

“This is going to be a disaster. It’s not going to save time, it’s a lie.”

“The Smithfield roundabout was the most dangerous in Cairns based on the number of accidents there and now McGregor Rd will become the most dangerous roundabout, with stop lights at Faculty Drive meaning traffic will back up on to the roundabout.”

Motorists expressed anger at the congestion earlier this year, particularly at the Cairns Western Arterial Road intersection, with massive spikes in travel times.

The state government maintains the bypass will improve traffic conditions by addressing congestion on the section of the Captain Cook Highway between McGregor Road and the intersection of the highway and the Cairns Western Arterial Road.

A 174m-long structure consists of two bridges, including one over McGregor Rd.

The Cairns Western Arterial Road has been upgraded to four lanes from the southern connection of the bypass to the traffic signals at Caravonica State School, including installing new traffic signals at the Skyrail Drive intersection.

The $164m Smithfield Bypass is set to open on Thursday. Picture: Brendan Radke

The existing roundabout at the intersection of the Cairns Western Arterial Road and the Highway has been upgraded to a signalised four-legged intersection, there is a new bridge at Avondale Creek and a two-lane bypass will continue north to McGregor Rd.

The work has included creating two lanes through to the northern connection to the highway at McGregor Rd, entry and exit ramps at the northern end and a new overpass bridge at McGregor Rd roundabout.

There are new traffic signals at the Skyrail Drive intersection.

Member for Barron River Craig Crawford said Cr Olds’ comments were “typically uninformed”.

“Every day about 45,000 vehicles use the Smithfield roundabout,’’ Mr Crawford said.

“Anyone who uses the Captain Cook Highway in the morning or afternoon peak knows how bad the traffic is through Smithfield.

“The Smithfield Bypass will roughly halve the volume of traffic using the Smithfield roundabout, it will dramatically improve travel times in the northern suburbs.

“The old Captain Cook Highway through Smithfield has a crash rate three to six times higher than the Queensland average, so the bypass will also make the area safer,” he said.

“If Cr Olds doesn’t want to use the new bypass, he is welcome to stick to the old road,’’ Mr Crawford said.

Originally published as Giant Cairns bypass is a ‘brainfart’ says councillor