Reconstruction works have been completed on Queensland’s Palmerston Highway, a key freight route in the state’s Far North.
As part of the works, two significant landslips – one where the road sunk two metres and shifted two metres sideways – were repaired.
The upslope sites, including one that measured 20-metres high and 75 metres at its widest point, were stabilised with more than 6500 metres of soil nails – the length of about 60 football fields – along with high tensile mesh and coir netting.
At the downslope landslip, 83 concrete piles measuring up to 19 metres were installed over 160 metres. A capping beam was built on top of the piles to secure them together. It also acts as a retaining wall for the road embankment.
The piles and capping beam used more than 1450 cubic metres of concrete which is enough to fill half an Olympic-size swimming pool.
Damaged sections of rainforest in the road corridor have also been rehabilitated.
The reconstruction was jointly funded by the Federal and Queensland Governments through the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA)
Works under the DRFA are ongoing to repair damage from ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper on other key range roads including Kennedy Highway (Kuranda Range), Gillies Range Road and Mossman – Mount Molloy Road, along with the Captain Cook Highway.
Federal Minister for Emergency Management, Kristy McBain said the completion of the works would benefit local residents.
“This news will be a relief for Far North Queenslanders still recovering from Tropical Cyclone Jasper, which caused this significant damage on the Palmerston Highway,” Minister McBain said.
“Crews did an amazing job to undertake emergency works in challenging conditions and repaired the road to a trafficable condition just months after its closure, helping keep the economy moving.
“This critical supply route has now been restored to its pre-disaster function, helping Tablelands primary producers and residents get around the region safely as we get on with the job of supporting recovery from Tropical Cyclone Jasper.”
Queensland Minister for Transport and Main Roads, Brent Mickelberg said the completion of works marked a critical milestone in Far North Queensland’s recovery.
“The Palmerston Highway is a vital connection for the farmers, freight operators and communities of the Atherton Tablelands,” he said.
“This has been a remarkable effort, which saw significant slope repairs occur within a limited road corridor and World Heritage Wet rainforest environment, all while keeping traffic moving throughout.”
