Range fix review

Highway extension option ‘too far away’

AUSTRALIA’S Deputy Prime Minister says any construction to extend the National Highway in Cairns is “probably too far off” as a business case was needed first.

Michael McCormack, who is also Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, was taken on a drive through Cairns and up to Kuranda on Sunday by Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch.

Mr Entsch has been campaigning to extend the National Highway to Smithfield and for major upgrades along the Kuranda Range road.

Mr McCormack (right) said yesterday there were obvious issues with congestion along the closure-prone highway on the range.

When asked what the solution for the range was, he said there first needed to be a business case for an upgrade.

“We have to do a full look at how much this is going to benefit economically,” he said.

“But, obviously, there is a lot of engineering and specific details that need to be worked out in conjunction with the State Government.”

Queensland Transport Minister Mark Bailey has written to the Deputy PM about the highway extension.

Mr Bailey has called for variable speed limits as a more realistic fix for the range, rather than a multi-billion dollar addition of two extra lanes.

Mr McCormack said he had not yet read Mr Bailey’s letter and any construction needed for a highway upgrade would be “probably too far off”.

“Mark Bailey has sent me a letter – I need to consider that,” he said. “You don’t just get a letter and instantly turn around and fund a proposal.

“I’ll be looking at it and I’ll certainly get back in touch with Minister Bailey and work with Warren Entsch to see what we can do.”

Investment applications for the National Land Transport Network close at year’s end.