Stage 2 of Queensland’s $237.5 million Cape York Region Package (CYRP) has seen the construction of a new bridge and the sealing of hundreds of kilometres of roadway in a major milestone for the Peninsula Developmental Road (PDR) project.
Construction of the 90m-long Saltwater Creek bridge – located on PDR next to Musgrave Roadhouse (about halfway between Laura and Coen) – began in June 2021 and is the first bridge to be built under the CYRP.
Completed by RoadTek in August 2022, the bridge is now open to motorists and replaces the low-level causeway, improving safety and flood resilience along an important route.
Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, and Local Government, Catherine King, said the works would support a safer and more reliable service for commuters.
“The Australian Government understands the importance of safe and reliable road infrastructure in Queensland’s remote and unique Cape York region.
“Anyone who knows Cape York will understand the Peninsula Developmental Road will always be prone to flooding and closures,” Ms King said.
“The construction of the first bridge under this package is a positive step towards easing flood water levels and road closures during the prolonged wet season each year.
“Nothing is more important than ensuring people can reach their destination safely and that’s exactly what this investment is about.”
The completion of sealing from Merluna to York Downs this month marks one of the most significant milestones of the CYRP achieved to date, with just over 200km of the PDR now sealed.
Once CYRP Stage 2 is complete, only 145km of the 571km PDR will remain unsealed.
CYRP Stage 2 is funded by the Australian and Queensland Governments on an 80:20 basis under the Roads of Strategic Importance (ROSI) initiative.
