Captain Cook Highway repair start time locked in

Road Repairs

Shaun Hollis

Journalist

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Delays while driving on the Captain Cook Highway have been a constant bone of contention for Port Douglas residents since Cyclone Jasper. Picture: Bryan Littlely

Major reconstruction works on the Captain Cook Highway between Port Douglas and Cairns will start early next month, according to the State Government Transport and Main Roads Department (TMR).

More than a year after the road was damaged by Cyclone Jasper, TMR this week finally locked in a confirmed start time - weather permitting - in a statement released to Newport Daily.

“Reconstruction works will begin in early January at priority sites currently under traffic control between Ellis Beach and Oak Beach, pending weather and site conditions,” the statement reads.

”Over the holiday period Captain Cook Highway will remain open under single lane traffic control at significant damage sites.”

A TMR spokesperson said “crucial surveying and geotechnical investigations, slope management and holding works” that started on November 11 had now been completed.

“TMR thanks road users for their patience while we completed the considerable tasks of scoping, investigations, planning, and detailed designs for repairs to over 50 geotechnical sites along the Captain Cook Highway,” they said.

“These behind-the-scenes works are vital to the reconstruction of Far North Queensland roads.”

On Wednesday, December 11, Newsport Daily put questions to the department about whether work would start this year, and received the answers on Thursday, December 19.

Emergency works following the cyclone meant the highway reopened with reduced speed limits, single-lane closures and traffic controls, a consistent bone of contention ever since for Port Douglas residents who need to drive to and from Cairns.

At the start of December a TMR spokesperson said works to fix the highway may begin this year, “weather permitting”.

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Some Newsport Daily readers posted online at the time they did not believe any work would be done this year.

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

Others defended the more than year-long delay in starting the 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.

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 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.

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

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