Cook Highway roadworks to stop for Easter, but some restrictions remain in place
Shire transport
There is expected to be a slight easing of roadworks restrictions on the Captain Cook Highway across the Easter period, starting this evening.
Works will stop from 5pm today and start up again on Tuesday morning, but there is still expected to be at least four spots remaining under traffic control.
The State Government Transport and Main Roads Department (TMR) stated the easing up of restrictions was taking place because road users travelled extensively during the Easter break.
“To accommodate this increased travel, site works, including night works, will cease on the Captain Cook Highway from 5pm on 2 April 2026 and recommence on 7 April,” TMR stated.
“Reduced speed limits, single-lane closures and traffic management will remain in place at sites north of Ellis Beach, Turtle Creek Beach, and Oak Beach and Yule Point.”
Readers have contacted Newsport several times across the past few months to say there had been up to eight places under traffic control at the same time on occasion along the stretch between Ellis Beach and Mowbray, causing frustration for commuters.
TMR states the roadworks are tracking as planned.
Last year, the TMR Far North District director told a meeting in Port Douglas he was "targeting late 2026” for the completion of the works, but he also said the damage was found to be a lot worse than TMR initially thought.
A total of about $216.3m in joint Federal and State Government Disaster Recovery Funding is being spent on the section of road between Cairns and Mossman, according to TMR figures.