Back to Projects
  • Home
  • Projects
  • Cunningham Highway (Ipswich – Warwick), 2020 Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements reconstruction works
  • South Coast Region
  • Natural Disaster Program
  • Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements
Location
Cunninghams Gap, Cunningham Highway, Tarome
Timing
Completed July 2026
Status
Completed
Aerial image of Cunningham Highway at Cunninghams Gap

Cunningham Highway (Ipswich – Warwick), 2020 Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements reconstruction works

The Queensland Government has restored the damaged section of the Cunningham Highway at Cunninghams Gap. This 2km stretch, leading up to the Allan Cunningham monument, suffered significant road damage during the bushfires in 2019.

Situated within the Main Range National Park, that is part of the esteemed Gondwana Rainforests World Heritage Area, the project demanded meticulous management to safeguard the surrounding environment. The project team faced unique challenges posed by the complex topography, requiring extensive design work, including geotechnical and structural assessments, before initiating the reconstruction process.

Benefits

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

Key features

  • Installed 20,000m2 of rockfall protection drape mesh.
  • Installed over 1km of roadside rockfall protection fencing.
  • Reduced the steep road grade at the top of the crest to provide a smoother ascent at the final bend of the highway with fewer breakdowns.
  • 1 emergency stopping bay was constructed approximately 1km east of the Allan Cunningham Monument. 2 stopping bays have been constructed near the Crest Carpark.
  • 7 retaining walls were built along the downslope section of the eastbound traffic lane road.
  • 4 soil nail walls were constructed on either side of the road at the crest.
  • Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) and monitoring systems were installed for real-time traffic and slope condition monitoring.
  • Wide centre line treatments were added to increase separation between opposing traffic lanes
  • Guardrails with rubrails were installed for motorcyclist safety.
  • Works were completed at the West Gap Creek picnic area.
  • Pavement works were completed.

Cunninghams Gap reconstruction project key features flythrough video

Transcript

[Opening scene: A map of Southern Queensland appears with on-screen text “Cunninghams Gap Reconstruction Project”.]

[Background music plays]

[Key locations appear with labelled locations of Warwick, Cunninghams Gap, Gold Coast, and Brisbane.]

[Map zooms in to show labelled locations of Tregony, Main Range National Park and Aratula.]

[A blue line representing Cunningham Highway appears, highlighting a 2.3km section of the project site. Arrows show the directions to Warwick and Ipswich/Brisbane.]

[Map zooms in to an animation of Cunninghams Gap showing the road with moving traffic.]

[Pop-up picture appears to highlight key features with on-screen text: "CCTV and monitoring systems" and "Rockfall signage".]

[Animation returns, moving further up the highway highlighting rockfall fencing and retaining wall with on-screen text: "Rockfall protection fencing" and "Retaining walls on the downslope".]

[Pop-up picture appears to highlight key features with on-screen text: "CCTV and monitoring systems".]

[Animation continues, moving further up the highway highlighting wide median lane with on-screen text: "One lane in each direction with wide median for safety".]

[Pop-up image appears with on-screen text: "Solar lighting".]

[Pop-up image appears showing an emergency stopping bay with on-screen text: "Emergency stopping bay".]

[Animation returns, moving further up the highway highlighting wide median lane again with on-screen text: "One lane in each direction with wide median for safety".]

[Animation moves up the highway, highlighting Gap Creek with on-screen text: "Gap Creek".]

[Pop-up image shows Gap Creek Bridge with on-screen text: "Gap Creek Bridge".]

[Animation shows rockfall protection and on-screen text: "Rockfall protection draped mesh".]

[Animation continues up the highway, highlighting a reduced road gradient near the Allan Cunningham monument. On-screen text: “Road grade reduction”. The monument location is then highlighted with on-screen text: “Allan Cunningham Monument”.]

[Animation highlights 2 emergency stopping bays with trucks parked. On-screen text: "Emergency stopping bay”.]

[The carpark is located on the right side of the emergency stopping bays. Animation highlights the median safety treatment. On-screen text: “Median safety treatment to prevent right turns into the car park” and “Carpark”.]

[Animation continues up the road past the carpark, highlighting a future pedestrian crossing with animated green lines and two people waiting to cross. On-screen text: “Pedestrian crossing for walking tracks”.]

[Closing scene: On-screen logos appears – "Delivering for Queensland", “Australian Government” and “Queensland Government” are shown.]

[Search bar graphic appears with icon and text: "Cunningham Gap Reconstruction". Footer on-screen text reads: "The recovery works are jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland Governments through the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA)".]

Funding

The recovery works were jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland Governments through the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

Community engagement

Extensive consultation was conducted with the freight, agriculture, tourism, and construction industries, as well as local businesses and neighbouring communities, to better understand travel patterns and needs.

Feedback from industry and the community was invaluable, leading to a review of project elements to reduce impacts on road users.

Information for heavy vehicle operators

A series of videos to help truck drivers safely navigate Cunninghams Gap throughout reconstruction was launched by the project team.

Last updated: 30 July 2026