The Kuranda Range Road, a vital segment of the Kennedy Highway connecting Smithfield and Kuranda, is undergoing significant safety and resilience upgrades. This transformative project aims to bolster travel reliability, support regional growth, and ensure the long-term sustainability of this essential corridor in Far North Queensland.
Serving as the primary link between Cairns and the Atherton Tablelands, the road facilitates:
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- Daily commutes for residents and workers
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- Freight and supply chain logistics essential for the regional economy
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- Emergency services and disaster evacuations, especially during extreme weather events
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- Tourism access to the Tablelands, Cape York, and beyond
However, the road’s steep gradients, sharp curves, and susceptibility to natural disasters have highlighted the need for comprehensive upgrades to meet current and future demands.
Current Status and Timeline
The Kuranda Range Road experienced substantial damage due to Tropical Cyclone Jasper in December 2023, resulting in over 30 major landslips. Immediate recovery efforts have been prioritized to restore safe access.
Project Phases:
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- Recovery Works: Ongoing repairs to address cyclone-induced damages, expected to continue until mid-2026, weather and construction conditions permitting.
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- Planning Phase: Concurrent development of the Kuranda Range Road Upgrade Strategy to determine and prioritize suitable treatments for long-term safety and resilience improvements.
- Construction Phase: Commencement of upgrade works post-recovery, aiming to minimize disruptions to road users.
In collaboration with the Australian Government, TMR is spearheading a project to enhance the safety and resilience of the Kuranda Range Road. The initiative focuses on reducing the frequency and duration of road closures, improving travel times, and ensuring reliability for all road users, including heavy vehicles.
This is set for completion in 2026.
Kuranda Range Road safety and resilience upgrades
After the flood damage is complete, TMR will move on to the next phase – the Safety and Resilience Upgrades
Key Features of the Upgrade:
- Protective barriers and guardrails to enhance roadside safety
- Shoulder widening to accommodate larger vehicles and provide recovery space
- Wide centre line treatments to reduce head-on collisions
- Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) for real-time traffic monitoring and management
- Slope stability treatments to mitigate landslip risks
- Vegetation management to improve visibility and reduce fire hazards
- Turnaround areas to facilitate traffic flow during incidents or closures
This project is in the planning phase.
Investment and Funding
The project represents a significant investment in the region’s infrastructure:
- Total Investment: $262.5 million
- Australian Government Contribution: $210 million
- Queensland Government Contribution: $52.5 million
This funding arrangement underscores the commitment at both federal and state levels to bolster the region’s transport network.
See the Summary Case
FAQS about Kuranda Range
Where are we at with the Range?
There are two parts to the Kuranda Range Road upgrade. Fix the damage from Cyclone Jaspar. Then move to the safety and resilience upgrades.
Why is this taking so long?
These are complex sites. The reconstruction work includes geotechnical solutions such as soil nailing, installing geomesh, using gabion baskets for stability, and reshaping embankments.
And, of course, our unpredictable weather doesn’t help
When is the range meant to be fixed?
We are already making progress.
Work has begun at three priority sites, with two currently operating under single-lane traffic control.
And we’re aiming to complete all works by mid-2026, weather and site conditions permitting. This means the end of the first project and then we can move on to the second stage – safety and resilience upgrades
Who will be fixing the range?
SEE Civil Pty Ltd, a firm with the capability and experience to deliver this vital work.
How will this impact the road?
We are developing a delivery strategy designed to minimise disruptions as much as possible. However, there will be traffic delays, temporary lane changes, and night-time closures at certain stages.
In short, this is a big problem — but we’re tackling it head-on, with real solutions and strong partnerships in place.
How much are the safety and resilience upgrades going to cost?
The Australian and Queensland governments have committed $262.5 million (on an 80:20 split) for safety and resilience upgrades on Kuranda Range Road.
Under this funding commitment, TMR is developing a Kuranda Range Road Upgrade Strategy to determine and prioritise suitable treatments to improve safety and resilience.
What does the upgrade look like?
The upgrades will likely include:
- protective barriers and/or guard rail
- turnaround areas
- shoulder widening
- wide centre line treatment
- intelligent transport systems
- slope stability treatments
- vegetation management.
Can’t we just make a new road?
While there are clear challenges with safety and resilience on Kuranda Range Road, capacity is not an issue. Current modelling indicates that one lane in each direction is sufficient for current traffic volumes and expected traffic volumes up to 2051.
Where can I find out more?
The Cairns to Northern Tablelands Access Strategy can be downloaded from the TMR website.
Stay updated on project developments by visiting the TMR project page.
See more: Barron River Bridge Upgrades
