Captain Cook Highway—Smithfield Bypass

The Smithfield Bypass is delivering vital infrastructure for the northern beaches of Cairns and meets the strategic transport needs of the area into the future. The new road will deliver a safer, more efficient travel route for motorists and industry along this section of the Captain Cook Highway.

A new bypass road is being built which will improve traffic conditions on the Smithfield road network by addressing congestion on the section of the Captain Cook Highway (CCH) between McGregor Road and the intersection of CCH and the Cairns Western Arterial Road. In particular, at the Smithfield, and Captain Cook Highway and Cairns Western Arterial Road roundabouts.

The Cairns Western Arterial Road is being upgraded to 4 lanes from the southern connection of the bypass to the traffic signals at Caravonica State School, including installing new traffic signals at the Skyrail Drive intersection.

Naming submissions

Infrastructure naming submissions are now closed. Thank you to everyone who put forward a submission.

The naming committee will now review all submissions and make a recommendation—check back later for announcement details.

Benefits

Improves safety
Increases capacity
Improves network efficiency
Increases traffic flow
Reduces peak hour congestion
Reduces travel time
Contributes to regional growth
Better active transport

Key features

Upgrade of the existing roundabout at the intersection of the Cairns Western Arterial Road and Captain Cook Highway (Caravonica roundabout) to a signalised 4-legged intersection allowing for extra lanes to increase capacity.
Four lanes on the approaches and departures at the southern connection.
A new bridge will be built at Avondale Creek and the 2-lane bypass will continue north to McGregor Road.
Two lanes through to the northern connection to the Captain Cook Highway at McGregor Road.
Entry and exit ramps will be built at the northern end.
A new overpass bridge at McGregor Road roundabout.
Merge and diverge lanes will provide motorists access to and from the new Bypass just north of McGregor Road roundabout.
Extension of dual carriageway from the southern connection of the bypass along Cairns Western Arterial Road to Caravonica State School.
Traffic signals at the Skyrail Drive intersection.

Funding

The project is solely funded by the Queensland Government. QTRIP investment ID 538017

Total investment: ^$164 million

Queensland Government: ^$164 million

Flythrough video

Video Transcript

We are constructing the Smithfield Bypass which provides vital infrastructure for the northern beaches of Cairns and meets the strategic transport needs of the area into the future.

The new bypass will deliver a safer, more efficient travel route for motorists and industry between Cairns Western Arterial Road intersection with the Captain Cook Highway and McGregor Road roundabout at Smithfield.

Cairns Western Arterial Road will be upgraded to 4 lanes from the school to the highway, and new traffic signals installed at the Cairns Western Arterial Road and Skyrail Drive intersection.

At the intersection of Captain Cook Highway and Cairns Western Arterial Road, a new 4-legged signalised intersection will replace the existing roundabout, increasing capacity now and providing for future growth.

The new 2-lane 3.8km Smithfield Bypass will separate through traffic from local traffic and ease congestion at roundabouts along the existing section of the highway.

The new bypass road is the equivalent to 6-laning the existing Captain Cook Highway through Smithfield.

We are making travel safer and more efficient for motorists and industry catering for current and future traffic volumes.

Better, safer facilities will be provided for cyclists and pedestrians with the construction of a new shared pathway.

A new overpass is under construction over the McGregor Road roundabout, with on and off ramps making it easier for motorists to access.

This $164 million upgrade is currently under construction and will be completed by late 2021.

We're committed to helping you get where you need to be safely and on time.

Empowering Indigenous trainees

Video Transcript

We're doing the median infills on the Smithfield Bypass. The Smithfield Bypass is very significant to the local people.

We acknowledge the Yirrganydji and also our other families to the north, south east, and west of us. Young Indigenous people on this land is very special and dear to my heart.

We are giving back but also we are moving forward.

I'd love to do this long term, so said if it helps us know the people and everything the younger generation is good .Apart of being a major civil contractor in an area you try and support the local companies as well as the local people and here we are in collaboration now with the UBC which is providing a pathway for young Indigenous kids into the community and teaching them valuable skills and giving them a pathway and a career.

Headstock installation time-lapse