General News
15 February, 2026
Road train uncertainty
THE thought of big road trains rolling through the Palmerston Highway might send shudders through the spines of residents who live along the highway and other road users – but the proposal is clearly spelt out in an official government corporation plan.
In its ‘30-Year Two-Port Master Plan’ – covering through to 2052 – Ports North outlines its wish list for Cairns and Mourilyan ports and the largest vehicles allowed on very few roads in Australia are included.
Currently the Palmerston Highway is single lane each direction, with a limited number of overtaking lanes.
Ports North says the Port of Mourilyan is “positioned for growth in bulk commodities, including silica sands and magnetite, with enhanced capacity for regional trade.”
But in that same section of the 30-year plan, one dot point has particularly alarmed local business.
The government-owned corporation says one of the key priorities to support the plan would be “upgrades to the Palmerston Highway from B-doubles to A-doubles or B-triples.”
Business lobby group Active8 Innisfail says the state government needs to be more open about what its plans are for the future Innisfail bypass and come clean about any major upgrades to the Palmerston.
A study on the bypass funded mainly by the federal government but also the state government several years ago costing $9 million, still hasn’t been released.
“The study was announced back in 2019 and then COVID happened,” Active8’s Suzanne Russell told The Observer.
“The consultation commenced in 2022, at which time the Palmerston Highway, as the only viable FNQ road from the Tablelands to the Coast, was suddenly added to the study and the interests of Ports North became the primary focus.”
We asked the Department of Transport Mains Roads (TMR) which is responsible for both the study and Ports North, if and when the study will be released, and also if the prospect of larger heavy vehicles using the Palmerston Highway had been factored into the study.
But the response has shed no more light on the study, or the bypass details.
“TMR is consulting with the Australian Government about the outcomes of the study,” a department spokesman said, without providing any timelines.
“Once finalised, findings will be published online and shared with affected property owners,” he said.
“Construction of the bypass is currently unfunded. The Palmerston Highway is not approved for A-doubles or B-triples.”
Mrs Russell says the minister responsible for both ports and roads, Brent Mickelberg, needs to be open about the study and plans for the bypass, including any Palmerston Highway upgrades, without further delay.
“Ports North seem to know a lot more about what is planned for us than the rest of us,” Mrs Russell said.
“In their 30-year Two-Port Master Plan, they have not only flagged the addition of Palmerston Highway works to the proposed Innisfail bypass planning but also flagged upgrades for that highway to take A-doubles or B-triples,” she said.
“We are talking about huge road trains on a two-lane highway through a national park, with thousands of springs under it and few overtaking lanes, following a steep ascent and descent route.
“Huge road trains will effectively slow the Palmerston Hwy overnight to 40km/h and have a negative impact on the many communities that live along this highway.
“These communities are probably completely unaware this proposal is on the table.”
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