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Cook Shire Road Conditions and Closures

This page provides an update on all roads managed by Cook Shire Council.

Updated MAY 30, 2023

Cook Shire Council aims to keep drivers, locals, tourists and their families safe on our roads.

During the wet season, in order to protect the safety of users, the structural integrity of the roads and help to keep supply lines open to towns, stations and communities throughout Cape York, often requires Council to place access restrictions on roads, or close them entirely.

Heavy rains and flash flooding can cause wash outs and lift large sections of bitumen, rending the roads dangerous and impassable.

The wet season also makes sealed and unsealed outback roads soft and vulnerable.

Vehicles travelling over this soft, water-soaked ground cause wheel ruts that hold the water when it rains. The water is then able to seep in further, causing deeper damage and prolonged road closures – the additional damage sometimes taking up to months to stabilise, rehabilitate and repair.

This is why it’s important that all drivers obey road closures and weight restrictions. Non-essential travel along these roads often causes additional, prolonged closures and delays.

If you have extenuating circumstances and no other alternative but to travel along a closed road, you must apply for a permit

Cook Shire Road ClosuresCook Shire Road Closures 2Cook Shire Road Closures 3

Above: some examples of road damage that have resulted in road closures. 


Road

Status

 4WD Only

Restrictions

on Road Use

Wet or boggy conditions

Bad wheel ruts &/or washouts

Comments

Jensen's Crossing Bridge

Open



Bloomfield Rd (Rossville/Bloomfield Rd)

Open

42.5 tonne maximum

Isabella-McIvor Rd – to Starcke River Boat Ramp

Open

X

5t Load Limit

 

High Clearance 4WD's Recommended

Drive with Extreme caution and to prevailing road conditions

Battlecamp Rd

Open


X



X


X


High Clearance 4WD Vehicles Recommended

Drive with extreme caution and to prevailing road conditions

Lakefield Rd – Southern end to Ranger Station

Open 

X 5t Load Limit

X

X

High Clearance 4WD Recommended

Drive with extreme caution and to road conditions

Lakefield Rd – from Ranger Station North


Open


X

5t Load Limit

X

X

High Clearance 4WD Recommended

Drive with extreme caution and to prevailing road conditions

Marina Plains Rd

Open

X

5t Load Limit

X

X

High Clearance 4WD   Recommended

Drive with Extreme Caution and to prevailing road conditions

Running Creek to Port Stewart Rd

Open
X

5t Load Limit

No Trailers


X

X

High Clearance 4WD's Recommended

Drive with extreme Caution and to road conditions

Lilyvale Rd

Open

X

5t Load Limit



High Clearance 4WD's Recommended

Drive with extreme Caution and to road conditions

Kimba Rd

Open

X




Drive with extreme caution and to prevailing road conditions

Kimba-Gamboola Rd


Open


X



High Clearance 4WD Vehicles Recommended

Drive with extreme caution and to prevailing road conditions

Dixie-Kimba Rd


Open


X




High Clearance 4WD Vehicles Recommended

Drive with extreme caution and to prevailing road conditions

Dixie Rd

Open

X




High Clearance 4WD Vehicles Recommended

Drive with extreme caution and to prevailing road conditions

Killarney Rd


Open


X




High Clearance 4WD Vehicles Recommended

Drive with extreme caution and to prevailing road conditions

Drumduff/Koolatah Rd

Cook Shire Section Only

Contact Carpentaria Shire Council for their section

(07) 4745 2200

CLOSED

X





Due to Flooding


Welcome Rd

Open

X




Drive with extreme caution and to prevailing road conditions

Fairview/Palmerville Rd

Open

X




High Clearance 4WD Recommended

Drive with extreme caution and to prevailing road conditions

Palmerville/Maytown Rd

Open

X




High Clearance 4WD Recommended

Drive with extreme caution and to prevailing road conditions

Whites Creek Rd (to Maytown)

Open

X



High Clearance 4WD Vehicles Recommended

Drive with extreme caution and to prevailing road conditions

Old Coach Road

Open to Restricted Access -

Staircase Closed - Bollards in Place

X

High Clearance 4WD Vehicles Only


X

Non Maintained Road

Drive with Extreme Caution and to prevailing road conditions

Byerstown Rd

Open

X


Maintained Road up to Palmer River

Bonny Glen Rd

Open

X



Drive with caution and to prevailing road conditions

Musgrave/Strathgordon Rd (to Pormpuraaw)

Open 

X

X

X

Drive with extreme caution and to prevailing road conditions

Will be reviewed on 29/05/23

Aurukun Rd

Open

X




 Drive with extreme caution and to prevailing road conditions

Port Stewart Rd through Old Coen Road


Open


X

5t Load Limit



High Clearance 4WD Vehicles Recommended

Drive with extreme caution and to prevailing road conditions

Holroyd Rd

Open

X




High Clearance 4WD Vehicles Recommended

Drive with extreme caution and to prevailing road conditions

Rokeby Rd

Open

X




High Clearance 4WD Vehicles Recommended

Drive with extreme caution and to prevailing road conditions

Mein/Batavia Rd

Open

X




High Clearance 4WD Vehicles Recommended

Drive with extreme caution and to prevailing road conditions

Moreton/Bramwell Rd

Open X



High Clearance 4WD Vehicles Recommended

Drive with extreme caution and to prevailing road conditions

Bamaga Rd

Open

X




High Clearance 4WD Vehicles Recommended

Drive with extreme caution and to prevailing road conditions

Sudley/Batavia Rd

Open

X




High Clearance 4WD Vehicles Recommended

Drive with extreme caution and to prevailing road conditions

Bertihaugh Track - Limited Access

Open

X

X X

Non Maintained Track

Drive with extreme caution and to prevailing conditions

Portland Roads Rd (including road to Chilli Beach)


Open

 

X

5t Load Limit

X

X

High Clearance 4WD Vehicles Recommended

Drive with extreme caution and to prevailing road conditions

Mt Webb/Wakooka Rd - (Kalpowar section)

Closed at Kalpowar Crossing

X




Due to Flooding

Mt Webb/Wakooka Rd - (Starcke section)

Open

X



High Clearance 4WD Vehicles Recommended

Drive with extreme caution and to prevailing road conditions

Grassy Hill Rd

Open

NOT SUITABLE FOR CARAVANS OR RVs. Bitumen but very steep and narrow. COACHES – 7m max length (usually 22 seater).

Mulligan Highway

STATE CONTROLLED ROAD contact Dept Transport & Main Roads

Ph: 131 940 Website: https://qldtraffic.qld.gov.au/

Peninsula Development Road (Lakeland to Weipa)

STATE CONTROLLED ROAD contact Dept Transport & Main Roads

Ph: 131 940 Website: https://qldtraffic.qld.gov.au

Endeavour Valley Road

STATE CONTROLLED ROAD contact Dept Transport & Main Roads

Ph: 131 940 Website: https://qldtraffic.qld.gov.au

ABN: 45 425 085 688

10 Furneaux Street Cooktown, Qld 4895

Mail: PO Box 3 Cooktown, Qld 4895

Email: mail@cook.qld.gov.au

Phone: (07) 4082 0500

Fax: (07) 4082 0588

Hours: 8.45am-4.45pm Monday to Friday