Frustrated motorists who rely on the Kilcoy-Beerwah Road at Cedarton could still be in for a long wait to have both lanes opened on the important transport link.
While the Department of Transport and Main Roads says the work should be done this year, it’s unlikely to happen in the first half of 2024.
Member for Glass House Andrew Powell said it had already been too long – the road was impacted in early 2022 when a drain failed and half the road slipped away.
One lane was closed and traffic lights were installed to allow regulated usage of the road.
Related story: Delay dismay: works stall on landslip-affected road
Mr Powell said that was only ever intended to be a short-term fix until design and construction work could properly – and safely – mend the road.
“It’s been 698 days of locals, tourists and business operators having to sit at the lone traffic light on Kilcoy-Beerwah Road and there doesn’t seem to be a start, let alone an end, in sight for the roadworks,” he said.
“I understand that there are more immediate priorities following the recent cyclone and storms, but how much longer are hinterland locals going to be asked to wait?”
In a statement, TMR said it was working on a solution.
“Many sites across the region were impacted in the major flooding event of early 2022, including the section of Kilcoy-Beerwah Road at Cedarton, just south of the Maleny-Stanley River Road intersection,” a TMR spokesperson said.
“To ensure the safety of road users, approximately 200 metres of the westbound lane on Kilcoy-Beerwah Road has been closed. This closure allows for a thorough assessment of the damage, geotechnical investigations and the planning and design of repair works.
“The Kilcoy-Beerwah landslip repairs are part of a comprehensive recovery program that addresses over 100 batter slope/embankment repairs throughout the region.
“TMR has finalised a detailed design and is currently undertaking procurement for construction. Construction across the program is expected to be carried out in 2024, weather permitting.
“Traffic updates will be provided to road users once construction timeframes for the Kilcoy-Beerwah Road site are confirmed. In the interim, TMR will continue to monitor this section of Kilcoy-Beerwah Road to maintain safety until full reconstruction can be completed.”
Mr Powell said that, when asked on several occasions last year, TMR informed him rectification works would require multiple design elements due to the steep embankment failure and the high risk rating the site received during the post-flood inspection.
“I have written to the new Minister for Main Roads (Bart Mellish) to remind him of the long-overdue repairs, because from where I stand the community have just been abandoned,” he said.
TMR said the work would be funded through the joint Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.
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