The Captain Cook Highway Upgrade - Cairns CBD to Smithfield encompasses the upgrade to a stretch of road from Cairns CBD to Aeroglen Drive. It will ease congestion north of Airport Avenue to Holloways Beach by upgrading seven key intersections between Florence Street and Aeroglen Drive and six laning Sheridan Street north of Grove Street.
The Queensland Government has referred to this project as 'Stage 1'. There has been no indication of future stages of the upgrade.
The proposed scope of the project between Florence Street and Aeroglen Drive will include:
- the upgrade of Captain Cook Highway to six lanes between Aeroglen Drive and the Smithfield Bypass
- construction of new bridges across the Barron River and Thomatis Creek, three lanes north and southbound
- active transport options including new dedicated cycleways running from Arnold Street connecting to the existing Aeroglen-to-CBD cycleway
- drainage improvements
- indented bus stops, and
- intersection upgrades.
As part of Stage One, the section of Captain Cook Highway locally known as Sheridan Street, between Airport Avenue and James Street, will see a third land installed inbound.
Key Dates
| Apr 2019 | Project Announcement |
Funding contributions
| Federal Government | |
| Queensland Government |
Procurement
| Procuring Agency: | Department of Transport and Main Roads |
PROJECT HISTORY
| Apr 2019 | The Federal Government announced $287 million in funding for the project. |
| Jul 2020 | The Federal Government announced that the section of the Captain Cook Highway from the Cairns CBD to Smithfield was added to the National Land Transport Network, effective 1 July 2020. The government also identified Stage One early works for the Captain Cook Highway project to include upgrades between James Street and Airport Avenue. Planning is currently underway for the section, which will be followed by detailed design and work to progress master planning for the entire route between the Cairns CBD and Smithfield. |
| Jan 2023 | The Queensland Government has released the preliminary master plan for the Captain Cook Highway - Cairns CBD to Smithfield for public consultation. |
| Feb 2023 | Public consultation on Captain Cook Highway plan closes. |
Estimated Total Cost
(2019)
Sector
Road
Procurement approach
Traditional Procurement |
Location
Queensland |
National |
Resources
