Bruce Highway, Cairns Southern Access Corridor (Stage 4), Kate Street to Aumuller Street, widen to six lanes

The Bruce Highway Cairns Southern Access Corridor from Kate Street (renamed Links Drive) to Aumuller Street has been upgraded to a 6-lane dual carriageway. Additional works included upgrades through to Draper Street and Kenny Street.

The Bruce Highway—Cairns Southern Access Corridor Stage 4: Kate Street to Aumuller Street project is part of the 15-year Bruce Highway Upgrade Program, a $13 billion program of works to improve safety, flood resilience and capacity along the Bruce Highway from Brisbane to Cairns. The program is jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland governments on an 80:20 basis. 

Benefits

  • Improves safety
  • Increases capacity
  • Improves network efficiency
  • Increases traffic flow
  • Reduces peak hour congestion
  • Better road access
  • Reduces travel time
  • Contributes to economy
  • Better active transport
  • Improves ride quality

Key features

  • The Bruce Highway between Kate Street (renamed Links Drive) and Buchan Street has been widened to 6 lanes.
  • A new 3 lane inbound bridge was constructed to replace the existing 2-lane inbound bridge and the existing outbound bridge has been widened from 2 to 3 lanes.
  • A new off-road shared pathway was constructed between Ruth Street and Aumuller Street.
  • The signalised intersections at Lyons Street and Aumuller Street have been upgraded with additional turning lanes.
  • The Draper/Kenny Street roundabout was upgraded to a signalised intersection with a new double left turn for outbound traffic.

Funding

This project was jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland governments on an 80:20 (federal:state) basis. Investment ID 384407

Total investment
$123.7 million
Australian Government
$98.96 million
Queensland Government
$24.74 million

Current status

The Bruce Highway, Cairns Southern Access Corridor (Stage 4), Kate Street to Aumuller Street project was completed July 2021.

GIF showing the alignment of the K2A

Artist's impression of the completed Chinaman Creek Bridge

Artist's impression of the completed Chinaman Creek Bridge

Artist's impression of the intersection of Bruce Highway and Aumuller Street
Artist's impression of the Bruce Highway and Aumuller Street intersection

Artists impression of the intersection of Bruce Highway and Lyons Street
Artist's impression of the intersection of Bruce Highway and Lyons Street

Project mapThumbnail

Project timeline

2010

Cairns Bruce Highway Master Plan released

2015

Project funding announced

May 2018

Design process completed

August 2018

Contract awarded to Georgiou Koppen Joint Venture

August 2018

Start of works

September 2019

Chinaman Creek bridge construction commenced

Late 2020

Bridge works complete

July 2021

Construction completed

Chinaman Creek bridge construction

Video Transcript

Construction of the new inbound bridge over Chinaman Creek on the Bruce Highway and widening of the existing outbound bridge to 3 lanes.

Construction shown as a time-lapse video clip beginning in 2018 and ending in 2021.

Kenny and Draper Streets intersection upgrade

Video Transcript

Upgrade of the Kenny Street and Draper Street roundabout into a 4 legged signalised intersection with dual outbound slip lanes.

Construction shown as a time-lapse video beginning in 2019 and ending in 2021.

Project flythrough

Video Transcript

We are upgrading the Bruce Highway – Cairns Southern Access Corridor – from Kate Street (renamed Links Drive) to Aumuller Street.

This is one of the busiest sections of the Bruce Highway in the Cairns region accommodating 35,000 vehicles per day.

Improvements along this corridor will enhance travel and improve efficiency, providing better connections which means more reliable travel times for Cairns motorists.

At Chinaman Creek the current inbound bridge will be replaced with a new 3 lane bridge and the existing outbound bridge widened to 3 lanes.

We’re widening this section of the highway from 4 to 6 lanes which will provide motorists with quicker, safer and less congestion, into and out of Cairns CBD along this route.

Better, safer facilities will be provided for cyclists and pedestrians with a new off-road shared pathway.

Upgrades to the Lyons Street and Aumuller Street intersections will include additional turning lanes to improve traffic flow for motorists.

Works from Comport Street to Kenny Street include an upgrade of the existing roundabout at Draper Street and Kenny Street to a signalised intersection, with a new double left turn for outbound traffic.

This $104.1 million-dollar upgrade is currently under construction and will be completed by mid-2021.

We’re committed to bringing you a more efficient highway motoring experience, to get you where you need to be safely and on time.

Outbound bridge widening time lapse video

Video Transcript

Cairns Southern Access Corridor

Kate Street to Aumuller Street Project

Outbound bridge deck installation, Chinaman Creek

28 deck units were installed to add a third lane

Engineers Australia Site Visit

Video Transcript

Bruce Highway – Cairns Southern Access Corridor – Stage 4: Kate Street to Aumuller Street Project

Engineers Australia site visit

Members visited for an information sharing and networking opportunity

They discussed Rapid Impact Compaction and wick drains, ground surface treatments

Wick drains are installed to speed up ground settlement

Wick drains allow water to rise under the weight of surcharge material

Visitors were provided with up close explanations

Rapid Impact Compaction (RIC) method

Compressing an old landfill site

Chinaman Creek Bridge Decking Unit Installation Time-lapse

Video Transcript

Cairns Southern Access Corridor
Kate Street to Aumuller Street Project
Chinaman Creek bridge – bridge decking installation

Liners Installation Time-lapse

Video Transcript

Building a bridge.

Bruce Highway – Cairns Southern Access Corridor – Stage 4: Kate Street to Aumuller Street Project.

This is a 30-tonne excavator.

With a vibrating head attachment.

The steel pipes are driven down 4 metres.

They reserve space for bridge supports.

Rapid Impact Compaction (RIC) technique used on site

Video Transcript

Contract Administrator, Andrew McIlveen.

RIC is an acronym that stands for Rapid Impact Compaction.

It involves a machine, an excavator, a 50 tonne excavator, that has a purpose-built attachment that undertakes what is called Rapid Impact Compaction.

Its purpose is to, basically compact loose materials in the ground underneath where we are trying to build the road.

The design for the site and, based on the fact that we are building on an old landfill site, requires that we undertake RIC at about two-meter centres.

It's not a common construction technique and in fact this is a first for Cairns. This type of equipment and machinery has not been in this region before.