If re-elected, the Miles Labor Government will deliver a new crossing over the Barron River backed by a $450 million funding commitment. This will be fully funded through additional borrowings.
The new Barron River Bridge would replace the current bridge, which was opened in 1963.
Following construction, the existing bridge would be removed.
The new Barron River Bridge will include:
- A new alignment, downstream of the current bridge
- Concrete balanced cantilever design
- Two wider traffic lanes to meet latest design standards, and
- Protected active transport connections for pedestrians and bike riders.
Construction will begin in the next term of government and, based on Transport and Main Roads advice, will be complete by 2031.
The commitment follows significant investment from the State Government in the Kennedy Highway, Kuranda Range Road and Barron River Bridge.
The 2024 State Budget included a $15 million investment towards preconstruction activities for a New Barron River Bridge.
A further $262 million in joint funding from the Miles and Albanese Labor Governments will also deliver safety and resilience upgrades along Kuranda Range Road. The scope of these works is under development, but could include protective barriers and guardrails, shoulder widening, wide centre line treatments, Intelligent Transport Systems, vegetation management and slope stability treatments at strategic locations. Almost $40 million was also invested to deliver intelligent transport solutions on the range, which was completed in March this year. This system helps to rapidly detect and manage incidents on the range and provide real time information from the range back to Transport and Main Roads
