General News
11 September, 2024
Two years to repair Range Road
A NUMBER of safety upgrades for the Kuranda Range Road have been proposed in a new strategy by the State and Federal governments but none of them will be done until repairs to the road have been completed which is expected to take two more years.
Released last week, the strategy proposes creating a large turnaround area that will allow vehicles to change plans if the Range Road is closed, the installation of 10 more Intelligent Transport Systems technology stations along the road, and a concrete median barrier at the bend known as “The Hairpin” to reduce the risk of head-on crashes.
But according to the document, the recovery works required to fix significant damage done to the road during and after Cyclone Jasper in December 2023 will need to be completed before any of the safety upgrades can commence. That is estimated to be mid-2026.
The Department of Transport and Main Roads says its priority “is the long-term repair works” of the sections that were damaged, with the project currently in the design phase and, according to the strategy paper, the works will require specialised crews that have extensive experience with slope stabilisation projects.
The recovery works are being jointly funded by both levels of government through the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements and is in addition to the upgrade funding, with the Federal Government committing $210 million and the State investing $52.5 million.
Queensland Minister for Transport and Main Roads Bart Mellish says his government recognises the importance of the Kuranda Range Road.
“Tropical Cyclone Jasper has underlined the importance of safe and resilient roads that connect Cairns and the Tablelands,” he said.
“We have listened to road users and the Australian and Queensland governments have invested to make Kuranda Range Road safer and more resilient.
“While our focus is on the repair works, we are developing a program of treatments at strategic locations where they are most beneficial to reduce the incidence and duration of unplanned closures and to allow road users safe and reliable travel up and down the range.”
Describing the road as a “vital lifeline” to Cairns, Member for Barron River Craig Crawford has welcomed the news.
“Kuranda Range Road is a vital lifeline to Cairns for everyone travelling to and from Kuranda, the Atherton Tablelands and beyond.
“Every road user wants it to be as safe and efficient as possible.
“Some other works may include guardrail, shoulder widening, centre line treatments, vegetation management and slope stability treatments.
“I’m assured that TMR’s priority on Kuranda Range Road is the long-term repair works of the sections damaged by the massive flooding in post-Tropical Cyclone Jasper.”
The strategy document, which was completed in July, states that around 9000 vehicles now use the range road every day, but only briefly refers to an alternative route from the Northern Tablelands to Cairns.
Despite acknowledging that the community has made it clear it favours an alternative road, the document does not indicate any support for another route – instead stating only that: “While there are clear challenges with safety and resilience on the Kuranda Range Road, capacity is not an issue.”
It also rules out any need for two lanes in each direction, saying current modelling indicated that one lane in each direction was “sufficient for traffic volumes and expected traffic volumes up to 2051”.
