The Cairns Western Arterial Road is a numbered state route in the Cairns Region of Queensland, Australia. The road provides a primary access route across the Brinsmead Gap for suburbs west of the Whitfield Range, and is one of two major crossings over the Barron River. In 2007, it was estimated that 24,000 vehicles per day used the road.[1]
Cairns Western Arterial Road | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Type | Road |
| Length | 14.1 km (8.8 mi) |
| Route number(s) |  State Route 91 |
| Major junctions | |
| Southeast end |  Bruce Highway (National Highway A1), Bungalow |
 Pease Street Redlynch Connection Road | |
| Northwest end |  Captain Cook Highway (National Highway 1), Smithfield |
| Location(s) | |
| Major suburbs | Manoora, Whitfield, Kanimbla, Brinsmead, Redlynch, Kamerunga, Caravonica |
After proceeding north-west for 2.4 km from the Bruce Highway at Bungalow, the dual carriageway road alignment follows Reservoir Road west of a signalised intersection with Pease Street in the suburb of Manoora. A number of suburban streets connect directly to the arterial between here and Enmore Road. West of Enmore Road, the route rises over high terrain. A grade separated interchange provides access to McManus Street, Whitfield through this section. Beyond this point, access from some side streets is possible as the alignment passes Kanimbla and Brinsmead. Turning north from Brinsmead to follow the Redlynch Valley, the road becomes a single carriageway passing over the Kuranda Scenic Railway and through Kamerunga where it crosses the Barron River. North of the river, the arterial provides access to Caravonica before joining the Captain Cook Highway at a large roundabout adjacent to the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway terminal.
Plans exist to duplicate the road between Brinsmead and Caravonica, which would include the construction of two bridges and an overpass. Based on current capacity this upgrade is estimated to be complete by 2023, however a proposed 7,500 room resort and casino at Yorkeys Knob may require the upgrade to occur earlier due to increased traffic volumes associated with the development.[2]
Upgrades
editIntersection upgrades
editA project to upgrade the intersection with Harley Street, at a cost of $16.3 million, was completed in July 2021.[3]
A project to investigate possible upgrades of the Loridan Drive intersection, at a cost of $550,000, was completed in December 2021.[4]
Roadway duplication
editA project to duplicate a section of the road, at a total cost of $300 million, completed its planning phase in November 2021. The design phase followed, with construction scheduled to start in late 2022.[5]
Major intersections
editThe entire road is in the Cairns local government area.
| Location | km | mi | Destinations | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mooroobool, Westcourt, Bungalow border | 0 | 0.0 | Bruce Highway (National Highway A1) – southwest – Woree / northeast – Cairns CBD | Southern end of Cairns Western Arterial Road (State Route 91) | |
| Manoora | 2.4 | 1.5 | Pease Street – north – Edge Hill | ||
| Freshwater Creek | 7.6 | 4.7 | Bill Fulton Bridge | ||
| Redlynch | 8.1 | 5.0 | Redlynch Connection Road – south – Redlynch | ||
| Barron River | 10.8– 10.9 | 6.7– 6.8 | The Kamerunga Bridge | ||
| Smithfield | 14.1 | 8.8 | Captain Cook Highway (National Highway 1) – north – Smithfield / southeast – Cairns CBD | Northern end of Cairns Western Arterial Road | |
| 1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi | |||||
References
edit- ^ Warren Pitt (12 October 2007). "Community urged to have say on Cairns Western Arterial Road project". Department of the Premier and Cabinet (Queensland).
- ^ Nick Dalton (18 January 2014). "Aquis mega-resort and casino at Yorkeys Knob would need multi-million dollar road plan". The Cairns Post.
- ^ "Cairns Western Arterial Road, Harley Street, upgrade intersection". Queensland Government. 26 November 2021. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
- ^ "Cairns Western Arterial Road, Loridan Drive intersection upgrade planning". Queensland Government. 23 February 2022. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
- ^ "Cairns Western Arterial Road, Redlynch Connector Road to Captain Cook Highway, duplication". Queensland Government. 4 February 2022. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
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