SAFETY for cyclists and motorcyclists on the Captain Cook Highway will be improved with a range of safety treatments planned for the major northern arterial route.
Main Roads Minister Craig Wallace said the Queensland Government was providing $300,000 in 2009-10 to continue roundabout upgrades on the highway between Kewarra Beach and Machans Beach north of Cairns.
The Yorkeys Knob and Machans Beach roundabouts will be the next two roundabouts to be upgraded this financial year and will follow on from the Trinity Beach roundabout works currently underway. The upgrade will provide a 1.5m wide bicycle lane at the roundabout and approaches, which will improve safety for cyclists riding through the roundabout.
Cairns Regional Council will carry out the works on behalf of the department, with work planned to start at Yorkeys Knob roundabout when work is completed at Trinity Beach roundabout in December 2009. Funding for the $310,000 Trinity Beach roundabout upgrade is part of the Federal Government's 2009-10 Black Spot Program.
Earlier this year, the speed limit at all nine roundabout approaches was reduced to 60 km/h, and line marking and additional road signs were installed to improve safety for all road users. This latest funding will allow three of the nine roundabouts to be upgraded by mid-2010 and will improve safety for cyclists on the Captain Cook Highway.
The State Government is also providing $570,000 for a range of motorcycle safety treatments for t he Captain Cook Highway. These works are a result of a Department of Transport and Main Roads safety audit of the Captain Cook Highway undertaken in September this year. The audit included a review of the road alignment, surface and roadside on the 32-km-section of highway from Buchans Point to Mowbray River bridge, south of Craiglie.
The audit recommended a range of roadside treatments to improve safety for motorcyclists, including the installation of new warning signs to instruct riders to take care when riding. Along with the installation of plastic reflectors on guardrails, flexible specially-crafted road signs, which are designed to break apart upon impact, will replace steel sign posts along the highway.
Impact cushions will also be installed on wire rope safety barriers in priority locations and railings will be placed under guardrails to minimise risk of injury to motorcyclists.
Work is planned to commence on the Captain Cook Highway motorcycle safety improvement works in early 2010.
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