HIGHWAY UPDATE: Good times for late-night Captain Cook drivers

Shire Roadworks

Shaun Hollis

Journalist

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Soil nailing at a site not far north of Turtle Creek Beach. Picture: TMR

No night closures of the Captain Cook Highway between Cairns and Port Douglas are planned in June and July, the State Government Transport and Main Roads Department (TMR) has announced.

TMR issued the statement today (Wednesday, June 18), but said night closures would still be needed further down the track.

“TMR will continue to review the forward program of works for opportunities to keep the road open wherever possible, it is anticipated scheduled night closures will be required later in the reconstruction program,” the statement reads.

“TMR will provide advance notice for any scheduled night closures if they are required.”

At an industry briefing in Port Douglas last month, TMR Far North District director Darryl Jones outlined the planned closure schedule, saying any night closures would likely run from 9pm-4am for five nights per week from Sunday evening through to Friday morning, with two “let throughs” to take place each night at 11pm and 1.30am.

“There are activities that we cannot do without full road closures,” Mr Jones said.

The night-closure program is being designed to fit in with the tourism industry, with the let throughs scheduled to coincide with planes landing at Cairns Airport, none on Friday and Saturday nights, and none during key events.

“We are keen to work with the community on those types of community events,” Mr Jones said.

Throughout June and July, single-lane closures will still be causing delays. 

Works are continuing at a landslip site about 1.5km south of Turtle Creek Beach between Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures and Oak Beach, at a major landslip site about 80m north of Turtle Creek Beach, and at another site about 1.5km further north of that spot.

Drilling works are also taking place at multiple sites near Ellis Beach. 

For details go to tmr.qld.gov.au and search “cyclone reconstruction works”.

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