Milestones reached on $237.5M Cape York Region Package Stage Two

Milestones reached on QLD’s $237.5M Cape York Region Package Stage Two — Image courtesy of the Queensland Government.

The $237.5 million Cape York Region Package (CYRP) Stage Two in Queensland has reached two significant milestones, with a new bridge and hundreds of kilometres of road now sealed.

The CYRP Two is a program of works to deliver infrastructure upgrades on the Cape York Peninsula between 2019-2020 and 2023-2024.

CYRP Two includes $190 million to progressively seal priority sections of the Peninsula Developmental Road, as well as $47.5 million to progressively seal priority sections of community access roads.

Construction of the 90-metre-long Saltwater Creek bridge – located on Peninsula Developmental Road (PDR) next to Musgrave Roadhouse (about halfway between Laura and Coen) – began in June 2021. It is the first bridge to be built under the CYRP.

The bridge is now open to motorists and replaces the low-level causeway, improving safety and flood resilience along this important route.

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 200 kilometres of the PDR now sealed. Once CYRP Stage Two is complete, only 145 kilometres of the 571-kilometre PDR will remain unsealed.

Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King said the Federal Government’s investment in the project aims to increase the safety of the connection.

“The construction of the first bridge under this package is a positive step towards easing floodwater levels and road closures during the prolonged wet season each year,” King said.

Queensland Minister for Transport and Main Roads Mark Bailey said the milestones would ensure the far North of the state can have safe and more resilient roads.

“Projects like these aren’t just about improving our road network – they’re also supporting good, secure jobs for Queenslanders,” Bailey said.

“In fact, more than 24,800 training and upskilling hours have been worked on these upgrades, more than double our original target.”

CYRP Stage Two is funded by the Australian and Queensland governments on an 80:20 basis under the Roads of Strategic Importance (ROSI) initiative.

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