Laying the foundations for long-term road repairs
Far North Queensland’s big wet of 2023-24 took a heavy toll on the region’s infrastructure, particularly its road network.
Badly affected was a picturesque 11.5-kilometre section of the Kennedy Highway, running from Cairns to Mareeba, known locally as Kuranda Range Road.
The winding crossing, which runs along the Macalister Range, links the Cairns suburb of Smithfield with the town of Kuranda on the Atherton Tablelands.
It is a vital artery for freight, business, tourism and emergency services.
However, the combination of almost 1.8 metres of rain in less than a week from ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper in December 2023, and a subsequent monsoonal drenching in early 2024, caused more than 30 landslips and resulted in the temporary closure of Kuranda Range Road for emergency repairs.
Almost immediately, Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) crews swung into action, undertaking extensive emergency repair works.
Their efforts saw the road reopen 20 December 2023, albeit with some sections reduced to a single lane with traffic control for safety.
But the monsoonal rainfall of early 2024 exacerbated landslips along Kuranda Range Road, and at the damaged section near Henry Ross lookout there was a significant risk the roadway would be undermined, which would have forced the road’s closure.
Further emergency works involving soil nailing and shotcreting stabilised the slopes to prevent more damage and ensure safety for road users.
The works were carried out under challenging wet season conditions, and managed to maintain access for emergency services during nightworks and subsequent road closures.
To do this, workers had to move machinery and equipment off the road at regular intervals, leading to the loss of up to an hour of effective work time on site during each transition period.
In a bid to reduce those impacts, TMR worked closely with Queensland Ambulance Service in Far North Queensland and the Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service to make alternative arrangements and provide essential access where required.
Overcoming these challenges as well as specialist supply issues and more wet weather delays saw works eventually completed 3 May 2024 following 37 nights of full road closures.
While keeping the road open and safe were priorities, the emergency works allowed TMR to prioritise long-term recovery efforts for the road.
Work is now continuing on geotechnical assessments, relevant approvals, and the preparation of suitable construction methodologies for the extensive repairs planned.
The recovery works are jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland Governments through the joint Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).
