Captain Cook Highway—Smithfield Bypass Project
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.
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.
- Total investment
- $164 million
- Queensland Government
- $164 million
Flythrough video
Headstock installation time-lapse
Current status
The final layout is now available, along with a flythrough video.
Major works to reconstruct the intersection of the Cairns Western Arterial Road and Captain Cook Highway to a signalised T-intersection are progressing.
Structural works for a new overpass bridge at McGregor Road roundabout have been completed, with remaining work to continue until mid-2021.
A new bridge over Avondale Creek has been completed.