Wednesday 18 May 2011

Road closures a challenge for the Challenge

: The Rex Lookout will be closed on the day

Alternative arrangements will be in place for people needing to travel between Cairns and Port Douglas during temporary road closures associated with Cairns Airport Adventure Festival and Challenge Cairns iron-distance triathlon on 3, 4 and 5 June.

Sections of the Captain Cook Highway will also be closed on Sunday 5 June.

Road closure Friday 3 June
6.30am - 9.30am The Esplanade Cairns, between Smith Street and Spence Street

Road closure Saturday 4 June
1pm - 4pm The Esplanade Cairns, between Upward Street and Shields Street

Road closure Sunday 5 June
4.00am - 6.00am Buckley St, Yorkeys Knob. Yorkeys Knob Boating Club will remain open for business as usual for members and their guests. Refer to website for further details around parking changes and boat ramp closures.

6.00am - 4.30pm southbound lane of the Captain Cook Highway between Old Port Rd Port Douglas and Buchan St Palm Cove.

7am - 4.30pm northbound lane of the Captain Cook Highway between Buchan St Palm Cove and Old Port Rd Port Douglas.

9:30am - 10.30am all lanes of the Captain Cook Highway between Veivers Rd Palm Cove and Discovery Drive (the Kewarra Beach roundabout).

9.30am - 8.30pm southbound lane of the Captain Cook Highway between Yorkeys Knob Rd and Airport Avenue Cairns. Single lane closure and decreased speed limit.

9.30am - 8.30pm runners will be crossing Airport Avenue Cairns so expect some delays.

9am - 1.00am (Monday 6 June) The Esplanade Cairns, between Upward Street and Spence Street.

5.00am - 6.30pm McGregor Rd and Dunne Road Smithfield.

7.30am - 3.30pm Old Port Rd from Captain Cook Highway to Port Douglas Road.

8.00am - 3.30pm Macrossan St from Davidson St to Wharf St Port Douglas. During road closures an alternative route will be in place for port Douglas residents via St Crispians Ave, Port Douglas Road and Mahogany St.

Event Hot line - 1300 835 411

Delays can be expected on Sunday 5 June in the precincts of:

·         Port Douglas

·         Yorkeys Knob

·         Northern Beaches

·         Captain Cook Highway - southbound from Yorkeys Knob to Airport Avenue

The Lagoon car park beside the Shangri-La hotel will be closed Monday 30 May - Wednesday 8 June.

Alternative arrangements

USM Events advises coach transfers will be operating from Cairns to Port Douglas (including Cairns Airport) prior to the closure of the northbound lanes of Captain Cook Highway at 7am on Sunday 5 June. Also operating will be coach transfers from Port Douglas to Cairns (including Cairns Airport) prior to the closure of the southbound lanes of the Captain Cook Highway on Sunday morning 5 June at 6am. The schedule is yet to be confirmed and I will give you an update when it is available.

Shuttle boats will operate between Cairns, the northern beaches and Port Douglas on Sunday 5 June. Schedule to be confirmed.

The Kennedy Highway will remain open and coach transfers will continue to operate from Port Douglas to Cairns and return via the Kennedy Highway during the closure of the Captain Cook Highway.

A Resort Centre has been set up at Cairns Colonial Club for visitors staying at Port Douglas and beyond departing via Cairns Airport on Sunday 5 June, and for visitors arriving at Cairns Airport with destinations in Port Douglas and north. The Resort Centre offers travellers free luggage storage, the use of the pool and guest lounge. There will be a small fee for use of the shuttle service to Cairns city and the Cairns Airport.

To assist your understanding of the event click here to see the Challenge Cairns course maps.

Have your say!

We ask you to provide your full name and valid email address to ensure your comments'' legitimacy is acknowledged. Editor reserves the right to amend comments in accordance with Publisher’s Terms and Conditions. Click here for full publishers terms and conditions for reader comments.

Mike T , 06-06-11 20:05:

Absolutley brilliant,well done usm and to challenge group for bringing the event to us .The free marketing for Far North Queensland and Port Douglas in it's time of need should be warmly welcomed by all.The spin off will come and all will benefit.Small business have not had to put their hand in their pocket for one cent of this marketing just one quiet day of trade on Sunday.Myself and my family got involved and helped man a drink station and had a blast seeing the action close up and cheering on the hard working ambassadors(aka competitors) for the far north, if they feel welcome they will tell their friends and more will come.Get involved Port, don't just sit back and whinge or we may lose this event to somewhere else.Bring it on, time to diversify and grow and we have had it handed to us... now we need to start running...and swimming ...and cycling.

anna whitfield, 06-06-11 13:26:

I am astonished to find out that people complained about this event and had no foresight to arrange alternatives to avoid getting stuck or were not able to turn it into a positive day, even it does cost a few dollars. With the amount of media exposure we received we are all bound to benefit from it (and perhaps keep your job), besides that it is an awesome event. I am also amazed to find out that hordes of Port Douglians go EVERY sunday to Cairns and are so upset by one sunday a year that it leaves them completely numb. I agree with Guy, for some of us who do nothing but complain and talk about the good OLD times, perhaps it is time to see it from todays' perspective.

Will DEVLIN, 05-06-11 19:30:

Something quite amazing happened today. The CC Highway was closed from 6.30 a.m. until 3.00 p.m. to host the biggest sporting event the Far North has ever seen, and .............. the sky didn't fall in! What a great event for FNQ, including Port Douglas, the benefits of which will flow on for many months in the future leading to an even bigger event next year. Organisers and supporters - Well Done. Look forward to the 2012 event.

Shirley , 02-06-11 17:47:

Unfortunately the "SHH Sale, Fashion Parade and Entertainment" that was to be held at Brothers Leagues Club, on Sunday 5th June by the Leukaemia Foundation of Qld, to raise funds for research and the treatment of patients, has had to be cancelled owing to the road closures. Stall money has had to be returned. What a shame that this worthy organisation will miss out on well needed funds. A tentative date for the next SSH sale is 22nd April 2012.

Al , 02-06-11 16:59:

Am all for this event. However, we are flying up to Cairns and staying in Port Douglas for THIS weekend only. IF we knew about this race at the time of booking we would have canceled and come at a different time. Now it seems that we will only have a few hours in Port Douglas before needing to go to bed early- get up at 3.30am the next day to make it back to Cairns in time to waste the day doing nothing! We should have been warned earlier and there should have been a deal with airlines to be able to change dates at no cost. What a great expense for for just a few hours!!!

Guy Besley, 01-06-11 09:26:

Dont worry, I wont start. But I will say this, I have been living in Port for 9 years and the road has been closed dozens of times for various reasons, without warning and for days at a time (a few years back). If we cant accept a MINOR bit of inconvience (yes, a few hours I would consider minor) for what will be, by far, the greatest marketing project ever undertaken in this region, then maybe we have to all have a good hard look at ourselves; is it this negativity that has put Port where it is now?

Will DEVLIN, 01-06-11 09:20:

Dear oh dear! I have to agree with Wade on this one. The sooner residents of Port Douglas STOP whining and start winning, the better. We live in paradise, but we are NOT the centre of the universe, nor the cultural centre of the far north. A percentage of tourists attracted to the Tropical North will necessarily visit Port Douglas - international and Australian travellers all have to contend with road closures on occasion at home; no different to us having to contend with it. I support the organisers and know this event will bring long-term benefits to our region and our town.

Jay Jay, 01-06-11 00:14:

Hi all this is none said a wonderful event to host, in saying that i work in Port and live in cairns, starting at two o'clock in the afternoon and finishing about elevenish for myself to make it to work i will have to drive 2 hours and 30 min and travel 160kms to make it to work, in the rising cost of fuel and living expences this comes at a cost for us all, let alone the fatiuge managment side of this issue, i feel that there are some wonderful roads around this aera that would be more suited for the purpose of this event, we have a lovely highway thats dule lane from the center of cairns all the way to kewarra beach they use one side and we use one side, but hey what do i know i suppose a cyclist need an inspiring view as they ride the race of their life, whats the point of bringing people to the aera and then locking them down for a day, no matter what is done it will always cause an issue the question is how many it will truly affect. well heres one..

Bob , 29-05-11 15:43:

I would be interested to see what the figures are for tourism in Port Douglas for the weekend of this event, from what I gather the Sunday markets are cancelled, local businesses are closing their doors for the day as there is no access and anyone that works in Cairns is screwed... Seems I need to outlay for accommodation in Cairns for this period due to being part of the Emergency response sevices and requiring to be on call incase of threat to any of the marine environment in FNQ! This event may be a good thing for Cains but as usual they could not give a stuff about Port, look at out roads/ information we should recieve (eg. Yasi) and the state of anything that is Cairns Council controlled. PLUS I found out today that another event was in progress... Signs were posted 2 days before and if you live in Four Mile chances are you never got to see them due to the roads you travel if you return home from Cairns or Port, how hard is a mail box drop?

Wade , 25-05-11 08:57:

The organisers have been working with local councillors and the chamber / tourism bodies on this since November last year. There are specific transport alternatives available on the day. This is a major event that benefits the region and it was only through strong regional lobbying that it came together. Less whinging and get to planning and assisting people. It is the incessant whinging in Port that is driving the economy downwards. Port leaders get out amongst your constituents and help them understand how to work with this event as bravely and boldly as you all scrapped to get it into Port

roger , 20-05-11 17:58:

Oh this is just great, a heap of cyclists will again be blocking our roads, i live in oak beach and if i want to get out to go anywhere, too bad apprently, maybe the clowns that organise this stuff should think about somone other then themselves. and shame on mainroads for even allowing this to happen on THE ONLY ROAD NORTH, like anyone is going to drive 2 hours through Mt Molloy and Mareeba just to get to cairns.....

Sandra Lee , 19-05-11 10:46:

Have your say anyone trying to do business on Sunday 5th June in Port Douglas!!