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  • Captain Cook Highway Cairns – Mossman 2024 Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements reconstruction
  • Natural Disaster Program
  • North Queensland Region
Location
Captain Cook Highway from Ellis Beach to Mossman – Daintree Road
Timing
Works commenced in early 2025.
Most reconstruction works are expected to be completed by early 2027, site and weather conditions permitting.
Some works may take longer due to the severity of the damage.
Status
Construction
Aerial view of construction works on the south slope of Turtle Creek Beach.
A fence for debris flow of the drilling at construction site north of Ellis Beach.
A drill drilling into a large slab of rock with a worker in safety gear standing next to the drill with trees in the background.
Red vertical drill drilling next to a rocky slope and tree in the background.
Aerial view of construction works on a road which is a top of a slope next to Turtle Creek beach with workers in safety gear and a truck on the road.
Soil nail drilling on a slope next to a road with a safety barrier due to construction and with the ocean in the background.
Aerial view of a road on top of a slope with tress on either side of the road and at the bottom of the image a beach and ocean.

Captain Cook Highway Cairns – Mossman 2024 Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements reconstruction

The Captain Cook Highway is undergoing extensive reconstruction to address the significant damage caused by Tropical Cyclone Jasper in December 2023.

These works are part of a long-term disaster recovery program to restore critical infrastructure and ensure the safety of road users.

As part of a comprehensive disaster recovery program, these works aim to restore vital infrastructure and prioritise the safety of all road users.

Repairs are being carried out across more than 80 geotechnical sites, along with numerous pavement and civil sites along the highway.

Key stabilisation measures include:

  • Strengthening slopes to prevent erosion and landslides.
  • Installing advanced soil anchoring systems for enhanced stability.
  • Constructing durable rock and concrete retaining walls.
  • Adding debris flow barriers to protect against falling rocks and ensure safer travel.

Additional works involve resurfacing damaged roads, repairing culverts, restoring drainage systems, and replacing or fixing road signs and barriers.

These efforts will fully restore the highway to its pre-cyclone function, ensuring it remains safe and operational for the community and businesses.

Benefits

  • Contributes to regional growth
  • Contributes to economy
  • Restores damaged infrastructure

Key features

  • Restoring access for communities and businesses.
  • Restoring damaged roads and road surfaces.
  • Repairing damaged slopes and batters along roads.

Current status

  • Start Date: Early 2025
  • Expected Completion: Most reconstruction works are expected to be completed by early 2027, site and weather conditions permitting. Some works may take longer due to the severity of the damage.
  • Current Progress: Over one-third of geotechnical sites have been repaired, with work continuing on hundreds of pavements and civil sites.

Captain Cook Highway southern sites map

Captain Cook Highway cyclone reconstruction works southern sites map

Captain Cook Highway northern sites map

Captain Cook Highway cyclone reconstruction works northern sites map

Debris flow barriers

The installation of debris flow barriers along the Captain Cook Highway is a significant milestone in Far North Queensland’s recovery efforts following the catastrophic damage caused by Tropical Cyclone Jasper in December 2023.

The barriers are designed to catch the solid debris while allowing for the flow of water into culverts and drains along the highway.

This reduces the potential for long-term road closures at these sites during and after extreme weather.

Captain Cook Highway cyclone reconstruction works

Video Transcript

0:01

[Opening Scene: an animation render of a creek flowing downhill to a debris flow barrier alongside the highway, water is flowing through the barrier.]

[On Screen text: “As part of the Cyclone Jasper reconstruction works on Captain Cook Highway.”]

0:11

[On Screen text: “Barriers are being built at Ellis Beach and other locations.”]

0:21

[Animation pans along the fence at road level showing the debris flow barrier alongside the highway]

[On Screen text: “It’s designed to catch rocks and debris during extreme weather.”]

0:36

[Animation changes to overhead view of the barrier and the highway. Boulders tumble down the hill and are stopped by the barrier before they reach the road or the culvert].

[On Screen text: This helps keep the highway open and protects the road and road users.”]

0:58

[Closing Screen: features on screen wordmark that reads ”Delivering for Queensland”.

A search bar graphic reads “Captain Cook Highway Reconstruction”.

Australian Government logo, Queensland Government logo]

[On Screen Text: The recovery works are jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland Governments through the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA)].

Last updated: 23 January 2026

Related projects

Far North Queensland cyclone reconstruction works

Significant progress has been made in restoring roads damaged by Tropical Cyclone Jasper in December 2023.

The cyclone caused severe damage to the state-controlled road network due to record rainfall.

  • Far North District
  • Construction
Aerial image of Kuranda Range Road, showing large green trees and a curved road which has temporary stabilisation repairs following a major landslip on the side of the road.