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
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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 |
|
|
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|
Bloomfield Rd (Rossville/Bloomfield Rd) |
Open |
42.5 tonne maximum |
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|
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 |
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|
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 |
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|
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). |
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|
Mulligan Highway |
STATE CONTROLLED ROAD contact Dept Transport & Main Roads Ph: 131 940 Website: https://qldtraffic.qld.gov.au/ |
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|
Peninsula Development Road (Lakeland to Weipa) |
STATE CONTROLLED ROAD contact Dept Transport & Main Roads Ph: 131 940 Website: https://qldtraffic.qld.gov.au |
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|
Endeavour Valley Road |
STATE CONTROLLED ROAD contact Dept Transport & Main Roads Ph: 131 940 Website: https://qldtraffic.qld.gov.au |
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Do not disobey 'ROAD CLOSED' signs as you may void all insurances in the event of an accident. You may also be fined by Queensland Police Service and lose points off your licence. Heavy vehicles may also be liable for any damage caused to the roadway.
Road conditions change constantly on dirt roads.
TAKE CARE, particularly when roads are wet.
|
Peninsula Development Rd Lakeland to Weipa Mulligan Highway Endeavour Valley Rd |
Contact Dept Transport & Main Roads Ph: 131 940 |
|
Kowanyama Rd Dunbar turn-off to Kowanyama |
Contact Carpentaria Shire Council Ph: 4745 2200 |
|
Bloomfield Road Bloomfield River South |
Contact Douglas Shire Council Ph: 4099 9444 |
|
Old Telegraph Track |
From Bramwell Junction north |
|
Captain Billy’s Track |
From Bamaga Rd to Captain Billy’s Landing |
|
Frenchman’s Track |
From Batavia Downs east |
|
Cape Melville National Park Track |
Between Kalpowar & Starcke sections of Mt Webb/Wakooka Rd |
| Maytown Road (Old Coach Road) | From Jowalbinna to Maytown |
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