Smithfield bypass: Cairns’ big road project, update for traffic fix
The sheer volume of materials used in the $164m Smithfield bypass project has been revealed as work crews move into a critical stage of construction.
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RECENTLY completed works along the $164m Smithfield bypass include the impressive overpass at the northern end of the road.
The 174m-long structure consists of two bridges – one over an unnamed road and another spanning the McGregor Rd roundabout.
It includes 200 decking units, each between 20m and 25m in length and weighing about 31.5 tonnes.
The McGregor Rd bridge incorporates seven precast headstocks, each weighing 69 tonnes and measuring 13m.
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Current construction includes road widening and asphalt works between the Captain Cook Highway, Cairns Western Arterial Road (CWAR) intersection and Caravonica State Primary School to upgrade CWAR to four lanes.
“This includes pavement reconstruction, drainage, increased lighting, landscaping and installation of traffic signals at the intersection of CWAR and Skyrail Dr,” a Department of Transport and Main Roads spokeswoman said.
“Additional current works include painting 1.1km of noise barriers adjacent to (subdivision) North Point, asphalt and general road surfacing works along the bypass alignment, concreting medians to create the dual carriageway and landscaping to create a fauna corridor between Cattana Wetlands and Avondale Creek.”
There is still plenty of work to go with the fourth of a five-stage reconstruction of the Captain Cook Highway and CWAR intersection starting this month.
“This stage involves a series of road surfacing works on the northbound lanes before the traffic switch,” the spokeswoman said.
“More upcoming works include pavement reconstruction of CWAR outbound lanes, reconstruction of pavement drains and the installation of new road lighting between CWAR intersection and Caravonica State Primary School.”
Originally published as Smithfield bypass: Cairns’ big road project, update for traffic fix
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