General News
4 January, 2026
Crucial route restored
A CYCLONE-damaged site on the Palmerston Highway – a vital freight route in Far North Queensland – has been repaired.
Both lanes have reopened on the upslope landslip area with a reduced speed limit while work continues to repair downslope and upslope damage on a second site.
The upslope landslip, 1.5km west of Henrietta Creek day use area, was a result of the record rainfall linked to Tropical Cyclone Jasper, measured more than 20m in height and 75m at its widest point.
More than 3000m of soil nails and 2000sqm of high tensile steel wire mesh and coir netting were installed, along with 300m of sub-surface horizontal drains, to stabilise the slip.
The bottom section of the slope was stabilised first, with a 5m-wide bench created for the excavator to reach the upper section of the slope.
Stabilisation of a second site, 2.5km west of Crawford’s Lookout, continues with work expected to be completed mid-2026, pending weather and site conditions.
Transport and Main Roads NQ acting regional director Brendan Clancy said TMR crews were working together to reinstate the Palmerston Highway to its pre-disaster function.
“The damage caused by Tropical Cyclone Jasper, which was one of the wettest tropical cyclones in Australian history, was significant as were the emergency works to address the most urgent landslip and pavement failures completed shortly after the event,” he said.
“Many of Far North Queensland’s residents and businesses rely on key infrastructure assets like this to support the local economy, enabling both visitors to travel around the world-renowned tourist region, and supplies to be transported for primary producers.
“The cyclone damage to this critical freight route was significant, with a section of the road sinking 2m and shifting 2m sideways.
“We continue to make solid progress in restoring key range crossings and other state-controlled roads to pre-cyclone function.”
Other works in the Far North are also progressing with 20 upslope and downslope landslips stabilised on the Kennedy Highway (Kuranda Range Road).
Work will continue at more than 15 sites in 2026. Repairs are also ongoing on the Captain Cook Highway, where more than a third of the geotechnical sites have already been completed.
Works on these sites will shut down from Friday 19 December 2025 and recommence Monday 5 January 2026, with active work sites reopening to two lanes over the holiday season, weather permitting.
Read More: Palmerston