Council supports bridge for Marine Precinct

The proposed replacement of the Cook Street Bridge in Portsmith will deliver safer, more resilient transport infrastructure for the community, with improved flood capacity, a wider road pavement and a separated cycle lane.

The upgrade requirement is yet to be confirmed, however, if required would form part of the broader Cairns Marine Precinct project and will support future growth in one of Cairns’ key industrial areas and the marine and defence industry it supports.

Cairns Regional Council will support the upgrade through a new Infrastructure Agreement with Ports North, with Council’s contribution capped at $1.5 million excluding GST.

The overall bridge replacement project is expected to exceed $10 million.

If the replacement of Cook Street Bridge is required to enable the Cairns Marine Precinct - Common User Facility, the replacement of the bridge will be delivered by Ports North under a project-specific design and construction approval process developed with Council, the new bridge will become a long-term community asset.