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| The Smithfield roundbot at present |
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| Possible bypass in RED. |
Planning for Smithfield Bypass underway:
THE horror Smithfield peak-hour gridlock could become a thing of the past in under three years, much to the relief of frustrated Cairns commuters.
Yesterday Barron River MP Craig Crawford announced a $1.69 million planning study had started on the long-awaited Smithfield Bypass project.
The road would likely travel through mostly cane farming property in an almost straight line between the McGregor Rd and Yorkeys Knob roundabouts, and could save as much as 20 minutes on a trip between Palm Cove and the city.
The announcement could not come soon enough for Cairns motorist Jarryd Flower, 23, who spends about 45 minutes each morning driving from Edmonton to his job in Smithfield.
“Thank God,” he said when told by the Cairns Post of the funding announcement.
“I don’t even know how to describe it – the backlog is ridiculous. It should be a 20-minute drive.”Mr Flower, who drives a Mitsubishi Triton ute, estimated the stop-start gridlock was costing him about $40 extra in fuel each week.
“Every dollar does help,” he said.
“It’s also timing, it’s the waiting.”
Mr Crawford said that, while the State Government had already bought much of the land for the bypass, there were still a few properties that needed to be acquired.
He said he expected a design for the road would be complete before the end of the year, and construction – estimated to cost about $120 million – could be finished in two years.
“This is about getting the necessary studies and planning work behind the scenes that has to be done for these large projects,” Mr Crawford said.
The possibility for motorists to enter and exit at Caravonica on to the Cairns Western Arterial Rd, and traffic lights at the Yorkeys Knob roundabout will be considered in the design.
Mr Crawford said he would work hard to stop the proposal falling by the wayside as other projects across the state competed for limited funds.
“Residents can be assured that I will be in the ear of the Treasurer, Premier and Main Roads Minister to get this important project happening,” he said.
A $1.69 million planning study has started for the proposed multi-million dollar Smithfield Bypass project, north of Cairns.
Member for Barron River Craig Crawford said planning was underway for the new project, which looked at linking Yorkeys Knob and McGregor Road roundabouts, bypassing Smithfield.
“Previous planning has consistently shown this proposed bypass is the best solution for reducing traffic volumes and congestion at the Smithfield and Caravonica roundabouts,” Mr Crawford said.
“Preliminary estimates indicate stage one of the proposed bypass is likely to cost about $120 million.
“We are looking at the possibility of including a two-lane divided road between Yorkeys Knob intersection and McGregor road, the signalisation of the Yorkeys Knob roundabout, and upgrading the Caravonica roundabout to a double right turn from Captain Cook Highway to Cairns Western Arterial Road.”
Mr Crawford said the proposed bypass would reduce congestion at the Smithfield and Caravonica roundabouts.
“The bypass would also provide a more efficient route from the northern beaches to Cairns city,” he said.
“We expect to have a business case completed for the proposed bypass by December 2016.
“Once planning is complete, any funds for detailed design and construction of the proposed Smithfield bypass will have to be prioritised against other important projects across Queensland’s 33,343-kilometre, state-controlled road network.
The photo with the RED LINE is the possible by-pass route which will run behind Bunnings and on the northern side of Catana Wetlands.
The bypass will come out on McGregor Road near the Campus Shopping Centre but as yet the hook up with the Captain Cook Highway is yet to be decided.
