Cairns ring road: National Highway’s $359m extension work about to start

The first crucial step towards building the $359m leg of the Cairns Ring Road is about to kick off - so when exactly will shovels be in the ground?

THE first crucial step towards building the $359 million leg of the Cairns Ring Road is about to kick off, with funding secured for early scoping and planning works.

The Federal Government has already committed up to $287.2 million towards the Captain Cook Hwy project in partnership with the State Government.

Now Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch says the first $4.5 million spend is ready to go out the door – and from that, construction time frames will be set down.

The preferred route for a proposed ring road extending the national and state arterial highways. PICTURE: SUPPLIED

The project will extend the national highway from its current end at the corner of Florence and Sheridan streets in the CBD, all the way through to the intersection of the Captain Cook and Kennedy highways at Smithfield.

In effect, it will convert the Captain Cook Hwy into a national highway – duplicating the full stretch to four lanes – through to Smithfield.

The other leg of the ring road – the $365.5 million Cairns Western Arterial Rd upgrade – is yet to secure a state funding commitment.

“The Captain Cook Hwy project will reduce congestion (and) improve freight efficiency and access to gateways, while also improving road safety,” Mr Entsch said.

“It will deliver upgrades along the Captain Cook Hwy, from the Cairns CBD to the Kennedy Hwy intersection.”

Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch. PICTURE: BRENDAN RADKE

The big test now will be whether there will be shovels in the ground by the time the Queensland election rolls around in September.

Advance Cairns chief executive Nick Trompf said the $4.5 million enabled the Department of Transport and Main Roads to start detailed planning.

“It will be a complex project given it is not a greenfield exercise and the highway will need to remain open throughout the works,” he said.

“Therefore getting the initial planning right will be critical to ensuring the upgrade meets the needs of the region and is delivered on time and on budget.”

Queensland Transport Minister Mark Bailey said the Far North Queensland economy was being hampered by a lack of easy access connecting the Cairns Airport and port with the region’s agricultural areas, including the Atherton Tablelands, Cape York Peninsula and Mossman.

“By filling that gap in the regional road network, the Captain Cook Hwy project will pave the way for the continued development of Cairns as an export and service hub,” Mr Bailey said.

Originally published as Cairns ring road: National Highway’s $359m extension work about to start