Kennedy Highway (Cairns - Mareeba), Barron River bridge (Kuranda), replacement

Pre-construction work has commenced to replace the ageing Barron River bridge at Kuranda to improve network reliability and safety for all road users, while minimising potential environmental and cultural heritage impacts.

Constructed in 1963, the bridge spans 256m over the Barron River, serving as a vital link in the transportation network. Inspections conducted in 2020 revealed fatigue cracks in certain steel components of the bridge. These cracks are attributed to decades of exposure to heavy vehicle loads, which have significantly increased since the bridge's construction.

To address these structural concerns, the department undertook thorough investigations, testing and repairs to ensure the safety of the bridge. A 42.5t load limit is in place. Additionally, a comprehensive monitoring and testing program has been implemented to continuously assess the bridge's condition and uphold safety standards. This program will continue until the replacement bridge is open to traffic.

Benefits

Improves safety
Improves network efficiency
Accessibility
Contributes to regional growth
Better active transport

Key features

The replacement Barron River bridge will be built on a new alignment, downstream from the existing bridge. It will feature:

a new pathway for pedestrians, mobility device users and bike riders, separated from traffic with a barrier
wider traffic lanes to meet the latest design standards
roadworks on the approaches to the bridge
a new turnaround facility at the top of Kuranda Range Road

The concept layout of the new bridge shows the new bridge and proposed works on the approaches.

Funding

This project is funded by the Australian and Queensland governments (Queensland Transport and Roads Investment Program 2025–26 to 2028–29).

Investment ID: 3095406

Total investment: ^$490 million

Australian Government: ^$245 million

Queensland Government: ^$245 million

Current status

A comprehensive planning study to determine the best long-term solution for the Barron River bridge completed in December 2024.

Pre-construction activities including geotechnical investigations and environmental and cultural heritage studies are underway.

Project timeline

Early 2026: design development begins
2028: construction starts
2031: replacement bridge opens to traffic
2031: existing bridge decommissioned and removed.