Cunninghams Gap Reconstruction Project

The Cunninghams Gap Reconstruction Project is restoring a critical section of the Cunningham Highway damaged during the 2019 bushfires, improving network resilience and ensuring the continued safe movement of freight, tourists and local communities through this important regional corridor.

Located within Main Range National Park, part of the Gondwana Rainforests World Heritage Area, the project was delivered in a highly constrained environment characterised by steep terrain, challenging geotechnical conditions and significant environmental sensitivities. Constructed in two stages, the works include upslope stabilisation through rockfall protection systems and soil nail retaining structures, as well as downslope improvements involving highway widening, construction of a new western carpark, stabilisation of fractured rock faces and upgrades to existing retaining structures. To overcome the challenges of working within steep, inaccessible terrain, the project utilised tower cranes to safely transport materials and equipment, reducing environmental disturbance, ensuring safety and minimising impacts to road users. Careful staging enabled the highway to remain operational throughout construction, maintaining a vital trade and tourism link while delivering long-term safety, reliability and capacity improvements.

Sector

Natural disaster recovery, Slope stabilisation, Transport, Utilities
Client

Department of Transport and Main Roads
Location

Cunningham Highway, Tregony, QLD
Duration

October 2022 - July 2026
Value

The Queensland Reconstruction Authority (QRA) formally confirms and reconciles the final project value during the project close-out and financial acquittal process once the DRFA project has been completed.