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SCD: Cunninghams Gap Reconstruction Project Complete - July 2026
Source: TMR
The Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) advises reconstruction of the bushfire-damaged Cunningham Highway at Cunninghams Gap is now complete, restoring one of Queensland’s most critical freight and transport routes.
Photo above: Looking east above the Cunningham Highway, a rockfall protection fence nearly seven metres high extends more than one kilometre east of Gap Creek Bridge beside the westbound lane.
The iconic Cunninghams Gap mountain pass, a critical national freight and transport route, remained open throughout this landmark reconstruction project.
The project has delivered important rockfall mitigation measures, including a massive roadside rockfall protection fence. The fence stands nearly seven metres high at its tallest point and stretches more than one kilometre east of the Gap Creek Bridge, with approximately 20,000 square metres of drape mesh secured to the steep slopes above the highway.
Seven retaining walls have also been constructed downslope from the eastbound traffic lane to enable the rockfall protection fence to be installed at road level.
These works included using five tower cranes to construct two of the retaining walls, minimising the need for extended lane closures.
Road users travelling through the area will also experience smoother traffic flow along the freight corridor, with the steepest part of the road at the crest reduced to create an easier ascent for heavy vehicles.
Photo below: Major rockfall mitigation systems have been installed, including 20,000 square metres of drape mesh secured to the steep slopes above the Cunningham Highway at Cunninghams Gap. More than 90 helicopter lifts were used to transport materials into the challenging terrain above the highway. 
Fast facts
🚛 Freight Lifeline: The Cunningham Highway carries approximately 6,000 vehicles daily through the Gap, with heavy vehicles making up about 30 per cent of the traffic, alongside up to 20 oversize overmass vehicles each weekday.
🪨 Rockfall Protection: Crews installed over 1km of roadside rockfall protection fencing and 20,000m² of drape mesh—equivalent to two football fields—to catch falling debris.
🚁 Heli-Lifts & Cranes: More than 90 helicopter lifts were used to transport materials into the steep terrain above the highway, while five tower cranes were deployed to build downslope retaining walls, removing construction vehicles from the road and preventing prolonged closures.
⛰️ A major engineering achievement: The steep grade of the final bend approaching the highway's crest was reduced, removing a notorious freight pinch-point for heavy vehicles.
♻️ Sustainability Focus: The project recycled nearly 1,600 tonnes of asphalt and approximately 9,000 tonnes of concrete during construction.
🎥 Industry Support: Since October 2023, TMR and the Queensland Trucking Association (QTA) have co-released 21 heavy vehicle safety videos on YouTube to assist freight operators navigating the corridor.