Bruce Highway (Innisfail - Cairns), Innisfail Bypass, plan and preserve corridor

The department is progressing a $9 million planning project to plan and protect a suitable road corridor for a future bypass of Innisfail, if required.

Options are being investigated for a future bypass of Innisfail to ensure the safety and efficiency of the Bruce Highway can be maintained in the medium to long-term.

Benefits

  • Improves safety
  • Increases capacity
  • Improves network efficiency
  • Increases traffic flow
  • Contributes to economy
  • Contributes to regional growth

Key features

  • Review existing strategic and detailed planning studies, to capture lessons learned to date.
  • Review the transport network in vicinity of Innisfail, to define the current transport problem.
  • Undertake a detailed assessment of options that address the transport problem.
  • Evaluate and determine a preferred corridor option.
  • Prepare land requirement plans, to inform future preservation activities.
  • Develop recommendations regarding the priority in the short-term, medium and/or long-term.
     

Funding

The project is jointly funded under the Bruce Highway Upgrade Program by the Australian Government and the Queensland Government on an 80:20 (federal: state) basis.
Investment ID: 386179

Total investment
$9 million
Australian Government
$7.2 million
Queensland Government
$1.8 million

Current status

A planning study is currently being undertaken to identify and preserve a corridor for a future bypass of Innisfail. There is currently no funding available for construction. 

Next steps 

During the planning stage we will: 

  • consider existing studies and lessons learned
  • carry out comprehensive community consultation
  • review the transport network to define the current transport problem
  • conduct a detailed assessment of options to address the transport problem
  • determine a preferred corridor option
  • prepare land requirement plans to inform future preservation activities
  • develop recommendations for the short, medium and/or long term.

Bruce Highway (Innisfail - Cairns), Innisfail Bypass, plan and preserve corridor map

Map showing area of consideration of Bruce Highway Innisfail Cairns Innisfail Bypass plan and preserve corridor project.

The study area being considered is: 

  • north: Intersection of the Bruce Highway (Innisfail - Cairns) and Dillion Road 
  • south: Intersection of the Bruce Highway (Ingham to Innisfail) and South Johnstone Road
  • east: Intersection of Mourilyan Harbour Road and Silvio Road west: Intersection of the Palmerston Highway (Innisfail - Ravenshoe) and Henderson Drive.