General News
6 September, 2024
Wet season to beat road repair
NO FURTHER repairs to the Kuranda Range Road or stabilisation of massive landslips will be done before the wet season arrives.
The road suffered massive damage as a result of Cyclone Jasper and extreme rainfall last December but since then, apart from stabilising a large landslip near the Henry Ross Lookout, no work has occurred to tackle the many other landslips along the road.
Motorists are concerned that these areas will suffer more damage and create additional blockages to the road in the storm and cyclone season just a few months away.
The Department of Transport and Main Roads has told The Express that the “reconstruction phase of works” will begin “in the coming months”.
“TMR is currently engaging contractors capable of reconstructing complex, high priority routes damaged by Tropical Cyclone Jasper and associated flooding,” a spokesperson said.
“The tender is under assessment and works are planned to begin late 2024, weather permitting.
“Reconstruction works are being scheduled to prioritise the most urgent works first.
“Once a program of works is finalised, TMR will advise stakeholders of the expected construction timeframes and traffic arrangements for the works.”
The news that the road will still be in a similar condition as it was a year ago when the damage was sustained and that there has been no update on when the Barron River bridge will re-open to two lanes of traffic has been criticised by LNP candidate for Cook David Kempton.
“With the wet season almost upon us and no clear plan for the future, the Barron River Bridge and Kuranda Range will remain substandard for some time to come,” he said.
“The ongoing band-aid type approach we have experienced over the past two years looks set to last for some years yet.
“That the Labor Government has failed for a decade to find a genuine solution to ensure road users have a safe, reliable and viable transport link to Cairns is nothing short of negligent.”
TMR has also advised that inspections and testing of the Macalloy bars on the Barron River Bridge are continuing.
“These works are expected to be completed in late September,” a spokesperson said.
“TMR will advise what the outcome of the investigations will mean for the traffic arrangements on the bridge.”
Mr Kempton says he has been advised that a report on the condition of the bridge and a detailed business case to resolve the problem with the bridge would not be ready until late 2024.
“Labor has known about the structural fault issues with the bridge for a decade but has failed to act,” he said.
“Even though Labor has not fully identified the problem with the bridge or how it might be fixed, or the cost, Labor has allocated $15 million for a predesign and up to $450 million to build a new bridge.
Mr Crawford hit back, saying at least his party had a firm plan to tackle the issue.
“Unlike the LNP, I have a very clear $450 million new bridge commitment delivered by the Premier himself, on-site at the bridge, that the Miles Government will deliver if re-elected,” he said.
“I don’t think we can be any clearer in our intent to replace this bridge than that.”
