Bruce Highway—Cairns Southern Access Corridor—Stage 4: Kate Street to Aumuller Street
The Bruce Highway Cairns Southern Access Corridor from Kate Street (renamed Links Drive) to Aumuller Street is being upgraded to a 6-lane dual carriageway. Additional works include 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 $12.6 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, with the Australian Government contributing up to $10 billion and the Queensland Government contributing up to $2.6 billion.
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
- Widening of the Bruce Highway to 6 lanes between Kate Street (renamed Links Drive) and Aumuller Street.
- A new 3 lane inbound bridge to replace the existing 2-lane inbound bridge and widening of the existing outbound bridge from 2 to 3 lanes.
- A new off-road shared pathway.
- Upgrade the signalised intersections at Lyons Street and Aumuller Street with additional turning lanes.
- Upgrade the Draper/Kenny Street roundabout to a signalised intersection with a new double left turn for outbound traffic.
Funding
This project is jointly funded by the
Australian and Queensland governments on an 80:20 (federal:state) basis.
- Total investment
- $123.7 million
- Australian Government
- $98.96 million
- Queensland Government
- $24.74 million
Current status
Major works are now underway.Current works include:
- The new inbound bridge at Chinaman Creek on the Bruce Highway (Ray Jones Drive) is now complete
- The newly constructed inbound section of the Bruce Highway (Ray Jones Drive) between Ruth Street and Aumuller Street is open to traffic
- The new off-road shared pathway between Ruth Street and Aumuller Street is now open to pedestrians and bike riders
- Work is underway to widen the outbound section of the Bruce Highway (Ray Jones Drive) between Aumuller Street and Ruth Street
- Widening of the Bruce Highway (Comport Street) between Aumuller and Fearnley Streets is continuing
- Widening works are underway along the inbound section of Draper Street
- Construction of the new signalised intersection at the corner of Kenny Street and Draper Street is continuing.
Artist's impression of the completed Chinaman Creek Bridge

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