Wrecked FNQ roads after flood: see the pictures

Critical stretches of the Captain Cook Highway and the Palmerston Highway will be open from January 20, but authorities have warned there may be years of remedial work ahead. SEE THE PIX

Bronwyn Farr

@bronwyn_farr

less than 2 min read

January 10, 2024 - 12:37PM

The Cairns Post

TMR crews are breaking up the monster boulder that fell on the Captain Cook Highway near Rex Lookout between Cairns and Port Douglas. Picture: Supplied

1/20TMR crews are breaking up the monster boulder that fell on the Captain Cook Highway near Rex Lookout between Cairns and Port Douglas. Picture: Supplied

2/20A giant problem: the boulder blocking the Captain Cook Highway north of Rex Lookout. Picture: TMR

3/20One of multiple problems the TMR is dealing with on the Captain Cook Highway between Port Douglas and Cairns. Picture: TMR

4/20Damage to the Captain Cook Highway between Cairns and Port Douglas. Picture: TMR

5/20The Captain Cook Highway between Cairns and Port Douglas was severely damaged in several places by floods in mid-December. Picture: Supplied

6/20The Captain Cook Highway between Cairns and Port Douglas was severely damaged in several places by floods in mid-December. Picture: Supplied

7/20The Captain Cook Highway between Cairns and Port Douglas was severely damaged in several places by floods in mid-December. Picture: Supplied

8/20The Captain Cook Highway between Cairns and Port Douglas was severely damaged in several places by floods in mid-December. Picture: Supplied

An incredible before and after on the Captain Cook Highway at Ellis Beach thanks to our hard working crews. , In just a few hours, these all-stars were able to clear a majority of the flood debris covering this section of the road., Clean-up and repairs are still underway in the aftermath of ex Tropical Cyclone Jasper. Picture TMR

9/20An incredible before and after on the Captain Cook Highway at Ellis Beach thanks to our hard working crews. , In just a few hours, these all-stars were able to clear a majority of the flood debris covering this section of the road., Clean-up and repairs are still underway in the aftermath of ex Tropical Cyclone Jasper. Picture TMR

An excavator clears debris from a huge landslide covering the Captain Cook Highway at Ellis Beach. Debris including mud, rocks and tree vegetation completely cut the Captain Cook Highway after flooding caused by ex Tropical Cyclone Jasper created devastation across the Cairns region. Picture: Brendan Radke

10/20An excavator clears debris from a huge landslide covering the Captain Cook Highway at Ellis Beach. Debris including mud, rocks and tree vegetation completely cut the Captain Cook Highway after flooding caused by ex Tropical Cyclone Jasper created devastation across the Cairns region. Picture: Brendan Radke

Work crews at the Palmerston Highway clear the roadway of vegetation and rock following major landslides in the wake of Ex Cyclone Jasper. Picture: Transport and Main Roads

11/20Work crews at the Palmerston Highway clear the roadway of vegetation and rock following major landslides in the wake of Ex Cyclone Jasper. Picture: Transport and Main Roads

Federal MP for Kennedy Bob Katter with the Owner of major transport company Blenners Transport, Les Blennerhassett, as they inspect the damage to the Palmerston Highway earlier this week. Picture: Office of Bob Katter

12/20Federal MP for Kennedy Bob Katter with the Owner of major transport company Blenners Transport, Les Blennerhassett, as they inspect the damage to the Palmerston Highway earlier this week. Picture: Office of Bob Katter

13/20The Palmerston Highway has received extensive damage following heavy rain and flooding in the days after cyclone Jasper. Picture: TMR

14/20An excavator clears debris from a huge landslide covering the Captain Cook Highway at Ellis Beach. Debris including mud, rocks and tree vegetation completely cut the Captain Cook Highway after flooding caused by ex Tropical Cyclone Jasper created devastation across the Cairns region. Picture: Brendan Radke

15/20TMR work on the Captain Cook Highway between Cairns and Port Douglas. Picture: TMR

16/20TMR crews are making rapid progress on problems closing the Captain Cook Highway between Cairns and Port Douglas. Picture: TMR

An excavator cleans debris from a huge landslide at Ellis Beach, Cairns. The northern beaches suburb has been smashed by landslides caused by flooding rain after ex Tropical Cyclone Jasper crossed the Far North Queensland coast. Mud, trees and rocks have caused large landslides across the Captain Cook Highway, which will take weeks to clean up and reopen. Picture: Brendan Radke

17/20An excavator cleans debris from a huge landslide at Ellis Beach, Cairns. The northern beaches suburb has been smashed by landslides caused by flooding rain after ex Tropical Cyclone Jasper crossed the Far North Queensland coast. Mud, trees and rocks have caused large landslides across the Captain Cook Highway, which will take weeks to clean up and reopen. Picture: Brendan Radke