Cairns Western Arterial
Cairns Western Arterial Road, Redlynch Connector to Captain Cook Highway Duplication (CWAR)
Road Connectivity
An integrated and efficient road transport network is critical for economic stability and growth in Far North Queensland, a region of 380,000km² which includes some of the nation’s most remote communities. The region’s inland roads and Cairns’ access to the northern beaches and Tablelands play a vital role in enabling the productivity of northern Australia and the contribution to the national economy through improved connectivity to southern markets. The disruption and dislocation to these road networks in the wake of ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper have underpinned the importance of these links to the region and indeed, to the nation. Growth in population, employment, tourism and freight volumes coupled with the increasing importance of food security, means safety and capacity requirements will only be exacerbated. Investment in FNQ’s road connectivity is crucial to avoid nationally significant productivity losses, to connect rural and remote communities and to ensure continued regional and state economic development.
The road network spanning Cairns’ northern beaches is of regional significance and remains essential to Far North Queensland’s future prosperity and liveability. A cohesive and effective road network between Cairns’ CBD and northern beaches guarantees access to vital healthcare, education and community services in addition to resident, tourist and trade and business connectivity.
The Cairns Western Arterial Road (CWAR) is central to freight, commuter and tourism traffic and supports resilience and connectivity when the Captain Cook Highway, Cairns CBD to Smithfield is flooded.
The effectiveness and safety of the road transport network in and around Cairns will continue to be adversely impacted until the CWAR is fully duplicated from Redlynch to Smithfield and in line with an upgrade of major intersections. A total commitment of $300m has been pledged by the Australian and Queensland Governments on an 80:20 basis to duplicate from Redlynch Connector Road to Captain Cook Highway.
Preparation works for Section 1 are expected to commence in late 2024, weather and other circumstances permitting.
Funding
The Australian Government and Queensland Government are funding the project.
Queensland Government funding has been released for preparation works for section 1, while the department continues to work towards meeting requirements set forth by the Australian Government for the release of construction funding. This follows the Australian Government’s Independent Strategic Review of its Infrastructure Investment Program.
 |
Australian Government $240 million |
 |
Queensland Government $60 million |
Benefits to the region
• Contribute to the growth of the regional economy, improving connectivity.
• Enhance disaster and climate resilience.
• Decrease travel time while increasing network reliability and efficiency.
• Improve safety and security.
• Encourage use of public and active transport.
Recommendation
Advance Cairns urges the Australian and Queensland Governments to work together to ensure requirements necessary for the release of the Australian Government’s financial contribution towards construction funding are met as a matter of priority and, subsequently, see to the expedited delivery of the Cairns Western Arterial Road (Redlynch Connector to Captain Cook Highway duplication), preventing further delays to this critical network
The Queensland Government allocates $197m towards the Cairns Western Arterial Road (Redlynch Connector to Captain Cook Highway duplication) over four years from 2024-25 in accordance with the Queensland Transport and Roads Investment Program 2024-25 to 2027-28.
Overview
The Cairns Western Arterial Road (CWAR) is central to freight, commuter and tourism traffic and supports resilience and connectivity when the Captain Cook Highway, Cairns CBD to Smithfield is flooded.
The effectiveness and safety of the road transport network in and around Cairns will continue to be adversely impacted until the CWAR is fully duplicated from Redlynch to Smithfield and in line with an upgrade of major intersections. A total commitment of $300m has been pledged by the Australian and Queensland Governments on an 80:20 basis to duplicate from Redlynch Connector Road to Captain Cook Highway.
The CWAR is considered a priority infrastructure project as the road is heavily congested daily, with about 42,000 vehicles using the road each day[i]. Further, when the Captain Cook Highway floods in the event of a natural disaster or during wet season, CWAR is the only flood-free access route between Cairns, the northern beaches, and the Kennedy Highway. Increasing extreme weather events make this all the more imperative, as evidenced during the recent widespread flooding in the wake of ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper where CWAR was one of the few major roads to remain open throughout the flooding, albeit the road was overwhelmed.
Upgrading CWAR is essential to connecting Cairns’ freight routes with the region’s premier areas of agricultural production (Tablelands, Cape York Peninsula, and Mossman), while also meeting demand for daily commuter traffic. At the 2020 Queensland state election, the Queensland Government pledged $60m to upgrade the CWAR. In the 2021-22 Federal Budget, the Australian Government committed a further $240m to upgrade the remaining single lane sections of the CWAR. Despite the initial commitment made almost four years ago and a total of $300m in funding committed to complete the CWAR with work originally slated to begin in late 2022[ii], construction is yet to commence.
It is now imperative that the Queensland and Australian Governments work together to expedite construction, preventing further delays to this network.
[i] Infrastructure Australia, Cairns Western Arterial Road capacity, last updated April 4, 2023, https://www.infrastructureaustralia.gov.au/map/cairns-western-arterial-road-capacity
[ii] Mark Bailey, “Work wraps up on Harley Street intersection upgrade”
Last updated: September 2024
The Cairns Western Arterial Road (CWAR) is central to freight, commuter and tourism traffic and supports resilience and connectivity when the Captain Cook Highway, Cairns CBD to Smithfield is flooded.
The effectiveness and safety of the road transport network in and around Cairns will continue to be adversely impacted until the CWAR is fully duplicated from Redlynch to Smithfield and in line with an upgrade of major intersections. A total commitment of $300m has been pledged by the Australian and Queensland Governments on an 80:20 basis to duplicate from Redlynch Connector Road to Captain Cook Highway.
Preparation works for Section 1 are expected to commence in late 2024, weather and other circumstances permitting.
Funding
The Australian Government and Queensland Government are funding the project.
Queensland Government funding has been released for preparation works for section 1, while the department continues to work towards meeting requirements set forth by the Australian Government for the release of construction funding. This follows the Australian Government’s Independent Strategic Review of its Infrastructure Investment Program.
| Australian Government $240 million |
Queensland Government $60 million |
Benefits to the region
• Contribute to the growth of the regional economy, improving connectivity.
• Enhance disaster and climate resilience.
• Decrease travel time while increasing network reliability and efficiency.
• Improve safety and security.
• Encourage use of public and active transport.
Recommendation
Advance Cairns urges the Australian and Queensland Governments to work together to ensure requirements necessary for the release of the Australian Government’s financial contribution towards construction funding are met as a matter of priority and, subsequently, see to the expedited delivery of the Cairns Western Arterial Road (Redlynch Connector to Captain Cook Highway duplication), preventing further delays to this critical network
The Queensland Government allocates $197m towards the Cairns Western Arterial Road (Redlynch Connector to Captain Cook Highway duplication) over four years from 2024-25 in accordance with the Queensland Transport and Roads Investment Program 2024-25 to 2027-28.
Overview
The Cairns Western Arterial Road (CWAR) is central to freight, commuter and tourism traffic and supports resilience and connectivity when the Captain Cook Highway, Cairns CBD to Smithfield is flooded.
The effectiveness and safety of the road transport network in and around Cairns will continue to be adversely impacted until the CWAR is fully duplicated from Redlynch to Smithfield and in line with an upgrade of major intersections. A total commitment of $300m has been pledged by the Australian and Queensland Governments on an 80:20 basis to duplicate from Redlynch Connector Road to Captain Cook Highway.
The CWAR is considered a priority infrastructure project as the road is heavily congested daily, with about 42,000 vehicles using the road each day[i]. Further, when the Captain Cook Highway floods in the event of a natural disaster or during wet season, CWAR is the only flood-free access route between Cairns, the northern beaches, and the Kennedy Highway. Increasing extreme weather events make this all the more imperative, as evidenced during the recent widespread flooding in the wake of ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper where CWAR was one of the few major roads to remain open throughout the flooding, albeit the road was overwhelmed.
Upgrading CWAR is essential to connecting Cairns’ freight routes with the region’s premier areas of agricultural production (Tablelands, Cape York Peninsula, and Mossman), while also meeting demand for daily commuter traffic. At the 2020 Queensland state election, the Queensland Government pledged $60m to upgrade the CWAR. In the 2021-22 Federal Budget, the Australian Government committed a further $240m to upgrade the remaining single lane sections of the CWAR. Despite the initial commitment made almost four years ago and a total of $300m in funding committed to complete the CWAR with work originally slated to begin in late 2022[ii], construction is yet to commence.
It is now imperative that the Queensland and Australian Governments work together to expedite construction, preventing further delays to this network.
[i] Infrastructure Australia, Cairns Western Arterial Road capacity, last updated April 4, 2023, https://www.infrastructureaustralia.gov.au/map/cairns-western-arterial-road-capacity
[ii] Mark Bailey, “Work wraps up on Harley Street intersection upgrade”
Last updated: September 2024
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