Cairns to Northern Territory Border Corridor Upgrade - Ootann Road Upgrade (Tablelands Section)

Project description

The project will upgrade the final section of gravel on the Ootann Road within the Tablelands Regional Council Local Government Area. Works will include localised realignments and approximately four kilometres of sealing.

The Ootann Road is an important freight link that is mostly unsealed and narrow. Unreliable access for road trains creates lengthy detours across winding mountainous routes, adding over 250 kilometres per trip. Led by Tablelands Regional Council, this project will provide a more efficient, resilient and safer freight system, facilitate economic expansion in the region, and significantly reduce travel time for heavy vehicles.

This project, in conjunction with a parallel project for the Ootann Road led by Mareeba Shire Council, was added to the Cairns to Northern Territory Border corridor under the Roads of Strategic Importance initiative at the 2022-23 Budget. These two projects will extend existing sealed sections of the road and raise its standard to a 9-metre-wide two lane seal, enabling better heavy vehicle access and delivering a strategic link between Northern Australian industry and southern markets.

Benefits

Improved road safety for all road users, improved efficiency and network reliability, improved freight productivity and access to freight gateways and reduced congestion and improved travel times.

Funding

Total funding of $4.08 million (Australian Government commitment $3.26 million, Tablelands Regional Council contribution $0.82 million).

Timetable

This project is expected to commence construction in mid 2023 and be completed by mid 2024.

Project last updated: 10 Feb 2023