Cairns Southern Access Cycleway, construct cycleway

The Department is reinvesting project savings to deliver a new off-road cycleway next to the Bruce Highway, consistent with the Cairns Bruce Highway Upgrade Masterplan. The project will deliver a safe off-road facility for bicycle riders of all abilities, including school children and the active transport community. The new cycleway also delivers a direct and continuous route with limited intersections to encourage bicycle riders to use the off-road facility.

This project will bring important benefits to bicycle riders and the active transport community in the Cairns region. The Cairns Southern Access Cycleway will connect to new cycleways built or already constructed as part of the Bruce Highway, Cairns Southern Access Corridor (Stage 3), Edmonton to Gordonvale and (Stage 4), Kate Street to Aumuller Street projects. Once all 3 projects are completed, 20km of direct cycleway will connect Gordonvale to the Cairns CBD.

The Cairns Southern Access Cycleway will provide an essential missing link connecting the southern suburbs to the city. This important infrastructure provides a dedicated and safe link for all bike riders including school children between Edmonton, Mount Sheridan, White Rock and Woree.

The new cycleway provides safer connections to several schools, businesses and shopping precincts south of Cairns.

Benefits

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

Key features

Reinvestment of savings achieved through the Bruce Highway, Cairns Southern Access Corridor (Stage 2), Robert Road to Foster Road project to construct a new 7km cycleway.
A new direct, continuous route with limited intersections to encourage bike riders of all abilities to use the pathway.
Link together cycleways being built as part of other projects to create a 20km continuous off-road shared pathway from Gordonvale to Cairns CBD.
Investigate additional connections to the Cairns Southern Access Cycleway (Spence Street) at Woree.

Infrastructure naming

The department is proud to announce the Cairns Southern Access Cycleway will join with the cycleway under construction as part of the Edmonton to Gordonvale project to become the Luke Azzopardi Cycleway.

The Luke Azzopardi Cycleway when completed will extend from Riverstone Road, Gordonvale to Ruth Street, Woree.

Mr Azzopardi was a Gordonvale resident who was well-respected and made significant contributions to sport and the community.

Savings reinvestment

The project is jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland governments.

The Cairns Southern Access Cycleway is a reinvestment of savings achieved through the $58 million Bruce Highway, Cairns Southern Access Corridor (Stage 2), Robert Road to Foster Road project jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland governments. Funding has been provided on an 80:20 basis.

Funding

The project is jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland governments. Project scope, cost and timing is subject to further planning, consideration and negotiation with the Australian Government. Investment ID 1249733.

The Cairns Southern Access Cycleway is a reinvestment of savings achieved through the Bruce Highway, Cairns Southern Access Corridor (Stage 2), Robert Road to Foster Road project.

A revised project cost of $41.5 million was announced on 22 December 2023.

Funding figures as at QTRIP 2023-24 to 2026-27 (June 2023).

Total investment: ^$31.8 million

Australian Government: ^$23.5 million

Queensland Government: ^$8.3 million