Cairns Western Arterial Road, Redlynch Connector Road to Captain Cook Highway, duplication
The department is undertaking a $300 million project to duplicate the Cairns Western Arterial Road between Redlynch Connector Road and Captain Cook Highway.
In October 2020, the Queensland Government committed to a $60 million upgrade of Cairns Western Arterial Road (CWAR) between Redlynch Connector Road and Kamerunga Road.
On 10 May 2021, the Australian Government committed a further $240 million to upgrade the remaining single lane sections of CWAR as part of the federal budget.
Benefits
- Improves safety
- Increases capacity
- Improves network efficiency
- Increases traffic flow
- Reduces peak hour congestion
- Reduces travel time
- Contributes to economy
- Contributes to regional growth
- Better active transport
Key features
- Upgrade of the section of the CWAR between Redlynch Connector Road and Captain Cook Highway to a four-lane dual carriageway.
- Duplication of the rail overpass at Redlynch.
- Duplication of the Kamerunga Bridge over the Barron River.
Funding
The project is jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland governments on an 80:20 (federal:state) basis. Investment ID 1810618
- Total investment
- $300 million
- Australian Government
- $240 million
- Queensland Government
- $60 million
Current status
Construction of the section of CWAR between Lake Placid Road and CCH (Stage 1) is expected to start late 2022, weather permitting.
Detailed design for the section between Redlynch Connector Road and Harley Street (Stage 2) will start in 2022.
Detailed design for the final stage between Harley Street and Lake Placid Road, including a new Barron River bridge (Stage 3), will also start in 2022. Construction of (Stage 3) will begin once all the land requirements are finalised.
Staging of these works will help minimise impacts to road users during construction.
Find out more about this project
Concept layout map

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