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Cunningham's Gap reconstruction (Cunningham Highway)

Overview:

Reconstruction work to repair damage from road pavement subsidence and landslips on the Cunningham Highway at Cunningham’s Gap is now complete. This damage, caused by extreme wet weather, affected 7km of the Cunningham Highway at Cunningham's Gap, between the top of the Gap and east of the helipad.

Location:

Cunningham Highway, through Cunningham’s Gap.

Completion:

This project began in late 2010 and was finished in early December 2012.

Benefits:

With reconstruction now completed, the road will be safe, efficient, reliable and more resilient to future extreme weather events.

These reconstruction works ensure safe access is maintained for the many road users who rely on this vital link each day.

Funding:

The project was delivered under the Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA), a joint federal and state initiative. Under these arrangements, the Australian Government provides 75% of the funding, with 25% from the Queensland Government.

$57 million was committed to reconstructing Cunningham’s Gap.

Regions:
South Coast Region

Project info

The Cunningham Highway is part of the federally funded national network providing a crucial east–west connection between Ipswich and Warwick for industry, tourism, businesses and the community.

Up to 5000 vehicles use the Cunningham Highway daily, many of them heavy vehicles.

The department started urgent safety works in November 2010 to manage the risk of major rock falls at Cunningham’s Gap.

Between December 2010 and early March 2011, the Gap received more than 2m of rain. Cunningham’s Gap sustained an enormous amount of damage as a result of this. Work to repair this damage was essential to the safety of Cunningham Highway road users.

Details of project features

The major reconstruction work required at 11 sites through the Gap included slope stabilisation works, drainage works, pavement repairs, new guardrails and asphalt sealing. The most badly damaged site was Clayton’s Gully.

Nearly 130,000m3 of material had to be excavated during the works at Clayton’s Gully and 20,000 tonnes of asphalt have been laid at the various sites to provide a new road surface through the Gap.

Related information

Contact details

Email: Reconstruct_southcoast@tmr.qld.gov.au
Phone: 07 5596 9500
Fax: 07 5596 9511
Post: Cunningham's Gap reconstruction
Department of Transport and Main Roads
PO Box 442
Nerang Qld 4211

Traffic info

The new 4-lane alignment through Clayton’s Gully is now open 24 hours a day to traffic heading east and westbound.

Last updated
06 May 2013