Kennedy Developmental Road (The Lynd to Hughenden) – progressive sealing and upgrade floodways
The Queensland Government has commenced work to seal the remaining 11km of Kennedy Developmental Road, improving flood resilience and access during the wet season.
The Kennedy Developmental Road is a key strategic link connecting northern Australia with southern freight hubs and supporting tourism, horticulture, freight, and cattle movements across Queensland's north and north-west.
Between 2017 and 2020, 90km of the Kennedy Developmental Road (The Lynd to Hughenden) was progressively sealed.
The project will seal the final 11 km, improving safety, flood resilience, and travel reliability for all road users.
The road also provides an important inland alternative when the Bruce Highway is affected by flooding and other severe weather events, supporting year-round access for communities, freight operators, and primary producers.
Benefits
- Improves safety
- Improves network efficiency
- Improves flood immunity
- Contributes to economy
- Contributes to regional growth
Key features
- Sealing of remaining 11km to improve access to Far North Queensland during flood events.
- Road formation and drainage improvements.
- New and upgraded causeways and culverts to improve flood resilience during the wet season.
Funding
This project is a planned investment. The Australian Government has allocated funding towards progressive sealing and upgrading of floodways on Kennedy Developmental Road. Investment ID: 3685934
The project is fully funded by the Australian Government and is being delivered by the Queensland government.
Current status
This project will be delivered in three stages.
Construction of Stage 1, to seal 2 kilometres at the southern end of KDR, near the boundary of Etheridge and Flinders shire, started in October 2026.
Community and stakeholder engagement
The project is being delivered in partnership with the Australian Government and includes ongoing engagement with local councils, industry representatives, key stakeholders, and road users.
While sealing the remaining 11km of road is a key component of the project, significant flood resilience works are also required to improve the road's performance during extreme weather events.
Due for completion by the end of 2029, the project includes complex engineering works to address flooding risks, a shallow water table and natural springs beneath the road surface. These works will improve the long-term safety, reliability, and resilience of the road.
Project map
