Roadwork and crash chaos sends Far North into ‘virtual lockdown’
A perfect storm of traffic headaches triggered by crashes and road works have been described as a “virtual lockdown” by angry drivers stuck for lengthy periods at pinch points throughout the region.
Cairns
Don't miss out on the headlines from Cairns. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A perfect storm of traffic headaches triggered by crashes and roadworks have been described as a “virtual lockdown” by angry drivers stuck for lengthy periods at pinch points throughout the region.
A square bordered by roadworks outside Mareeba on the Kennedy Highway, Bushy Creek at Julatten, the Captain Cook Highway, Kuranda Range Road and rolling closures of the Barron River bridge at Kuranda at the weekend created lines of traffic kilometres long.
Traffic became backed up for 2km almost to Rainforestation and in a western direction while road crews shut the Barron River Bridge on Friday and Saturday.
And on Sunday it was a similar situation near the Turtle Cove temporary traffic lights when a partial fuel truck rollover fully closed the road for more than three hours to eventually fully reopen five hours later.
A huge backlog of cars turning around to head south through Mareeba were then brought to a standstill at Bushy Creek road works at Julatten.
Michael Petersen was one driver held up for almost an hour on Sunday.
“North Queensland is in a virtual lockdown,” he said.
“It’s just annoying, the roads are in chaos, we are getting it everywhere.
“Kuranda Range has three sets of lights, they have Bushy Creek and the coast road, so that whole triangle is difficult.
“Nothing is happening on the Kuranda Range, the washouts have been sitting there since Jasper and there’s absolutely no work going on there.
“They are doing nothing except spending a fortune on traffic control.”
Transport and Main Roads in early August when announcing the continued single lane operation of the Captain Cook Highway and “completion” of critical Far North road works
stated long-term works are expected to start “in several months,” to reconstruct the Captain Cook Highway, Mossman-Mount Molloy Road, and Mossman-Daintree Road.
But the road authority has consistently declined to state when bottlenecks on the Kuranda Range and the coast road to Mossman would be fully reopened.
Since Cyclone Jasper landslides have reduced the Captain Cook Highway to single lane operations in three places and two one lane sections the Kuranda Range Road at Streets Creek and the Henry Ross Lookout have slowed traffic and contributed to crashes, including an 11 car pile on the range in July.
Queensland Trucking Association spokeswoman Frances Schafer said constant delays added to wage and fuel costs and ultimately drive up the cost of road freighted products.
“Which as we know, all contributes to the cost of living pressures and delayed deliveries causing issues for businesses,” she said.
“It’s very difficult for drivers to manage their fatigue and work diaries with so many unexpected road delays.
“We are expected to have roadworthy vehicles but our government doesn’t maintain vehicle-worthy roads.
“Our region has been let down by the federal and state government for far too long and now we are seeing the endless roads failing, delays and hold ups.
“Now is the time to ensure your state and federal members and candidates know your priorities for North Queensland.
“It has to be investment into roads and infrastructure this election, not in seven years.
“We need action now.”
TRANSPORT AND MAIN ROADS RESPONDS TO CONCERNS
Transport and Main Roads has responded to road user concerns relating to ongoing traffic delays caused by damage to arterial routes when a historic deluge hit the Far North in December last year.
The road authority acknowledged the road works across the Far North are inconvenient for motorists.
“We are actively looking for opportunities to reduce single lane sections and closures, but only when deemed safe for all road users at disaster affected sites,” a spokesman said.
Barron River bridge shutdowns at Kuranda of up to 10 minutes will persist until August 30 to allow repair work.
An investigation into Macalloy post-tensioning bars fitted in 1963 is expected to be complete by September.
But the Captain Cook Highway will not return to two lane operation before December 2024 due to the scale of the reconstruction program according to TMR.
“TMR is exploring scheduling of works to minimise delays to motorists, however, the scale of the reconstruction program means traffic delays and changed traffic conditions will be unavoidable,” the spokesman said.
“The Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements specify that reconstruction works must be completed within two years after the financial year in which an event occurred, however TMR is endeavouring to complete the reconstruction works ahead of these deadlines.
“TMR is continuing to work with stakeholders and industry to mitigate road work delays whilst these complex repairs are completed.”
The Transport and Main Roads declined to state when single lane operation Kuranda Range section of the of the Kennedy Highway at Streets Creek and the Henry Ross Lookout will be returned to a twin lane set up.
More Coverage
Originally published as Roadwork and crash chaos sends Far North into ‘virtual lockdown’
Search continues for missing Aurukun man
Emergency services are on the lookout for a fisherman who’s been missing for a number of days in Far North Queensland.
Harrowing attempts to resuscitate unresponsive man
A Trinity Beach family desperately tried to resuscitate a man who was found unresponsive in the water on Saturday morning.