A year on, when will Captain Cook Highway fix start?

Newsport Daily put questions to the TMR Department on Wednesday (December 11) about whether works would start this year, but has not yet received a definitive answer - we will keep you posted as soon as we do.

While there seems to be some TMR movement beginning along the stretch, Newsport Daily readers have posted online they do not believe any work would be done this year.

“Now is late 2024,” wrote reader David Costello. “I doubt they will.”

Others have defended the year-long delay in starting the reconstruction works.

Terence Smith: “There is no simple fix, even the repairs carried out so far are very complex and will take time. People need to understand this and be patient.”

The crucial service route is not expected to be fully repaired until at least mid 2026, a TMR spokesperson has said.

“Where possible, works will begin in late 2024, and continue in 2025, site and weather conditions permitting,” they said.

“There are some reconstruction works we can undertake and manage within the constraints of a normal wet season.”

There were more than 50 “geotechnical failure sites” on the highway that needed to be fixed following damage last December from Jasper, along with subsequent flooding.

“Due to the scope of reconstruction works and heavy equipment required, full hard closures at night will be needed at times for the safety of road users and reconstruction crew,” the spokesperson said.

“Changed traffic conditions including reduced speed limits, single-lane closures and manual and permanent traffic control will be in place for the duration of the works.”

The works were being jointly funded by the federal and Queensland governments through Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.

The public will be kept fully informed about changes to traffic conditions, including road closures, and will be given as much advanced warning as possible, according to TMR.