Night closures on Captain Cook Highway 15 May 2025 to Late July 2025

UPDATED 22 May 2025:

Starting 1 July 2025 we are unable to offer private transfer services that commence after 6pm from Port Douglas or after 6pm from Cairns Airport. When the situation has changed we will update our booking forms. We apologise for this inconvenience which is 100% out of our control. Visitors to the region can please understand that this is very important remediation work on the highway that was extensively damaged in December 2023 and January 2024 by Cyclone Jasper and the heavy rains that followed.

Visitors arriving at night into Cairns should make arrangments to stay in Cairns and travel the next day. During the day there is ready access up and down the highway for all shuttle and private transfer services.

Regards
Paul
CairnsAirportShuttle.net

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT AND MAIN ROADS (Queensland)
https://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/  
MEDIA STATEMENT 08 May 2024
Night closures on Captain Cook Highway 15 May – Late July

• A section of captain Cook Highway, between Rex Lookout and Turtle Cove, Wangetti, will be closed to traffic at night from Wednesday 15 May until late July, weather and construction conditions permitting.
• This section of the highway will be closed between 9pm and 4am with traffic to be let through twice in each direction at 11pm and 1.30am on selected nights where works will allow.
• Full closures are scheduled for the nights of Sunday 19 May and Monday 20 May, when the scope of works cannot allow for traffic releases.

To expedite repairs on the Captain Cook Highway to ensure the safety for road users, a section between Rex Lookout and Turtle Cove, Wangetti, will be closed to traffic at night from Wednesday 15 May until late July.

The Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) will carry out critical works between Rex Lookout and Turtle Cove, Wangetti, in preparation for permanent repair works.

Several sections of the Captain Cook Highway received significant damage following rainfall associated with Tropical Cyclone Jasper in December 2023.

TMR understands the importance of this vital route and these decisions have been made after engagement and consultation with community members.

Feedback from stakeholders has allowed us to arrange for scheduled traffic let throughs and to ensure that no night works will occur on the following dates:
• Friday 24 May to Sunday 26 May – Road will remain open for Port Douglas Carnivale
• Saturday 1 June
• Saturday 8 June
• Saturday 15 June – Road will remain open to allow access ahead of the Ironman event.
• Sunday 16 June – Changed traffic conditions and closures will be in place. For more information on these see the Ironman website – Works will resume Monday 17 June.
• Saturday 22 June
• Saturday 29 June
• Saturday 6 July

Due to the required heavy machinery and limited road width, full closures of this section of road will be necessary.

Full closures are scheduled for the nights of:
• Sunday 19 May
• Monday 20 May
On these nights, traffic cannot be let through.

TMR anticipates further full closure dates will be required. The dates of full closures are dependent on progress of works, weather, materials supply, and construction conditions. Road users should plan their journeys accordingly and seek an alternative route if travel at night is necessary.

Following the works, the Captain Cook Highway will remain single lane at various locations until permanent repair works can be carried out.

Investigations are continuing into long-term solutions for repairs to the Captain Cook Highway.

TMR is prioritising the design, relevant approvals, and preparation of suitable construction methodologies for these recovery works.

The recovery works are jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland Governments through the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

Quotes attributable to Queensland Transport and Main Roads Regional Director, Ross Hodgman:

“Our priority is to maintain safe access on the Captain Cook Highway for all road users.

“I understand that road closures are an inconvenience and encourage road users to plan ahead.

“The closures are necessary to safely carry out these critical works and I thank road users for their patience.

"We've thankfully been able to schedule works around events I know are important to the region's economy such as the Ironman and Port Douglas Carnivale."

For up-to-date information about the state-controlled road network, check the QLDTraffic website or call 13 19 40. Road users are also encouraged to subscribe to SMS traffic alerts for the Captain Cook Highway to be notified of changed traffic conditions.

For up-to-date information on traffic disruptions, visit the QldTraffic website at www.qldtraffic.qld.gov.au call 131940 or download the QldTraffic app from your app store.

​ENDS