Florence Street Link

Project summary

Florence Street provides an important pedestrian link between major cultural and tourism attractions including The Precinct (Munro Martin Parklands and the Cairns Performing Arts Centre), the Cairns Aquarium and the Esplanade Parklands.

The Florence Street Link project (from the Cairns Esplanade to Grafton Street) addresses safety and pedestrian connection issues through the replacement of two existing roundabouts with signalised intersections. Signalised intersections provide pedestrian priority, and improve pedestrian and cyclist safety along this important link. The street has also been enhanced with attractive tropical landscaping.

The $10.5 million project included:

• traffic signalisation of the Abbott Street / Florence Street intersection and the Lake Street / Florence Street intersection;
• footpath, and kerb and channel renewals on both sides of the road where required;
• road and car parking bay reconfigurations and road pavement improvements;
• street lighting improvements between Abbott Street and Grafton Street (removal of old timber poles of road shoulders and replacement with new LED lights on steel poles within the centre medians);
• streetscape improvements including irrigated, landscaped centre median islands and additional street tree plantings and gardens; and
• contemporary, attractive lighting of trees and other features.

A future project identified within the City Centre Master Plan is to construct a new pier opposite the end of Florence Street out from the Esplanade boardwalk which will enhance the strong link between these two significant areas.

Landscape design

A light, bright colour scheme features along the street, with vibrant tropical, flowering trees, shrubs and ground covers. This is complemented by new street furniture and structures including a trellis and vine structure at the corner of Abbott Street and Florence Street to continue the theming that features in Munro Martin Parklands.

New concrete footpaths give a light-washed finish and concrete seating with slatted timber tops forms a focal point at each intersection. These have under-seat LED strip lighting and include a planter element. Under the trellis, or adjacent to a walkway structure, stainless wires allow the growing of vines at nodal points where possible.

Bud lighting highlights mature trees and additional lighting is included in the new awning structure outside the Cairns Aquarium. The trellis node on the southern corner of Florence Street and Abbott Street includes a light-weight, artificial “roof” of lights which are lit at night with coloured icicle lights.