Stage one road developments finished

THE Peninsula Development Road (PDR) will be getting more than 15km of road sealed after the first stage of the Cape York Region Package project was completed.

The first stage of the development roads sealing was completed last week with stage 2 set to commence soon and be completed by late 2020.

The sealing works are funded under a $237.5 million partnership between the Australian and Queensland Governments under the Roads of Strategic Importance Initiative.

Federal Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch said sealing the PDR would minimise closures due to flooding, improve transport efficiency, and reduce maintenance costs.

“The PDR has low reliability with extended and multiple road closures and periods of load restrictions each year due to flooding,” he said.

“Unsealed sections generally have substandard drainage and low levels of immunity at waterway crossings.

“When community access roads are closed or subject to load restrictions, road freight stops and has to be replaced by other transport means which can be many times more expensive.”