Sealing Of Peninsula Developmental Road

Project Description

This project will seal the final 15km of the Peninsula Developmental Road (PDR) between Lakeland and Laura.

Planning has identified five sections of the PDR that require sealing:

• Lakeland Dump to Lily Creek;
• Carols Crossing and Approaches;
• Ruth Creek and Approaches;
• Crocodile Gap to Hells Gate Creek; and
• Laura River and Approaches.

These projects build upon previous work funded by the Australian Government on the PDR including:

• unsealed access road sections stretching along the spine of Cape York Peninsula in Far North Queensland;
• sealing of a flood-prone and rocky section between Split Rock and Laura, part of the Lakeland to Laura link, 300 km north-west of Cairns;
• the Laura River to Coalseam Creek project completed in mid December 2004; and
• a section south of Kennedy Creek completed in early 2007.

In addition, five to ten creek crossings north of Laura will receive minor works.

Benefits

Upgrading the Peninsula Developmental Road will provide better connections between the principal road servicing Cape York Peninsula and the National Network south of Cairns. It will also generate indirect benefits for Cairns as the regional transport hub.

In addition, sealing of the road will assist in keeping the road open longer during the wet season, improve safety and travel time and will reduce costs for the pastoral and tourism industries heavily reliant on the road.

Funding

The Australian Government has committed $15 million to the project, in partnership with the Queensland Government.

Timetable

Construction commenced on the first sections of the road in April 2010 and the full project is expected to be completed in late 2011, weather permitting.