Work to fix roads badly damaged by Cyclone Jasper in north Queensland late last year is continuing, with a major milestone just having been reached on the Captain Cook Highway.
Slope stabilisation works have now been completed on the highway between Rex Lookout and Turtle Cove.
The State Government says this marks the finalisation of emergency repairs required to maintain open roads and access to communities across Far North Queensland.
It says for the safety of all road users, single-lane closures will remain in place while the Transport and Main Roads (TMR) focuses on design and prioritisation of reconstruction works to return the road to pre-cyclone capacity and reopen to two lanes.
Progress is being made on the damaged Captain Cook Highway. PIC: Queensland Government
Flashback! The same stretch of road just a few months ago. PIC: Queensland Government.
Long-term works are expected to start in several months to complete the reconstruction works on Captain Cook Highway, Mossman-Mount Molloy Road, and Mossman-Daintree Road.
The recovery works are jointly funded by the Federal and State Governments through the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).
Senator for Queensland, Nita Green, said she was delighted to see progress being made, through cooperation at both levels of government.
“Cyclone Jasper resulted in significant damage to critical infrastructure and we greatly appreciate the resilience and patience shown during the path to recovery to ensure the road is safe and accessible for residents and tourists,” she said. “While these emergency works will be valuable in getting vehicles back on the road, I know both Governments are working hard to deliver long term reconstruction works as quickly as possible.”
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As a nomad, I live in Far north Qld and Jasper was indeed a phenomenal experience. Friends are beginning to wonder will the repairs be sufficient before the next wet season. While the Cook Highway carries traffic to the north, the Kennedy Highway/Kuranda Range/Barron River Bridge is the main link with the Atherton Tableland and beyond. Far from being repaired, these areas are still very vulnerable to the current ongoing rain and the next wet season.