Gillies Range Road, various locations, improve safety

The department is delivering a $21.314 million program of upgrades on 4 sections of Gillies Range Road between Gordonvale and Atherton to enhance safety.

This stretch of road serves as crucial route for freight, commuting and tourism purposes.

The section of road between Gordonvale and Atherton can see up to 8,106 vehicles per day (2018 Annual Average Daily Traffic). While not an approved route for multi-combination vehicles, heavy vehicles also make up to 10% of the total traffic volumes.

Benefits

  • Improves safety
  • Improves network efficiency
  • Contributes to economy
  • Contributes to regional growth
  • Improves ride quality

Key features

  • Minor intersection enhancements to reduce the number of rear-end and sideswipe crashes, enhance traffic flow and increase intersection capacity.
  • Wide centre line treatments at suitable locations along the road to minimise the risk of head-on collisions.
  • Audible tactile line markings on the centre and edge lines to reduce fatigue-related crashes.
  • New guardrail and wire-rope barriers to prevent serious injuries caused by vehicles leaving the road uncontrollably.

Gordonvale to the bottom of the range

  • The speed limit between the Bruce Highway and the bottom of the range has been reduced to 80km/h.
  • A vehicle activated sign has been installed to remind motorists of the posted speed limit.

Gillies Range

  • Safety assessments of pullover bays have been completed to ensure compliance with design standards and enhance road user safety.
  • Installation of new guardrail and extensions of existing guardrail has been completed.
  • New curve alignment markers have been installed.
  • Visibility has been improved through the installation of additional signs and line markings, aiding drivers in controlling vehicle speed and maintaining lane positions.
  • Vegetation clearing has been carried out.

Top of the range to Yungaburra

  • Widening of several sections of Gillies Range Road with wide centre line treatments.
  • Upgrading signs and guideposts to enhance safety. 

Funding

Funding for these improvements comes from the High Risk Roads Targeted Road Safety Program, with a total investment of $21.314 million. The program is part of a broader $112 million initiative focused on delivering safety works across Queensland over the next three years. Investment ID 1136484

Total investment
$21.314 million
Queensland Government
$21.314 million

Gillies Range Road, various locations, improve safety project location map