A new off-road bike path has been announced to bridge the missing links from Cairns all the way south to Gordonvale.
In what is being considered a big win for local bike riders and Far North Queensland tourism, the 20 kilometre path will make it safe for riders of all ages and abilities to travel from Cairns to neighbouring townships.
Deputy Prime Minister and Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Minister Michael McCormack said the cycleway was a huge boost for the community.
“This is a key section in a series of new cycleway infrastructure being built along the Cairns Southern Access Corridor as part of the Cairns Bruce Highway Upgrade Masterplan,” Mr McCormack said.
The new section is being funded through the reinvestment of around $24 million that was saved from stage two of the $58 million Bruce Highway Southern Access Corridor project, bankrolled by both the federal and state governments.
Queensland Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said, "We completed that project about three months ahead of schedule, and we’re putting the savings from it back into the local community to build new recreational infrastructure.”
Speaker of the Queensland Parliament and State Member for Mulgrave Curtis Pitt added that "by providing a dedicated off-road bike riding option for commuting and recreation activity, we can support Far North Queenslanders with a safer environment that encourages people to be more active and swap their car trip for a bike ride.”
“We have a $219 million budget over four years to build new bike paths and infrastructure across Queensland, so additional projects like this will add more kilometres to our bike networks for locals and visitors to the region,” Mr Pitt said.
Construction of the 20 kilometre path is set for early next year, with plans to be completed by mid-2021, weather permitting.
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