Kuranda’s Barron River Bridge returning to one lane as pedestrians continue to run the gauntlet

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The holiday is over for motorists on the Kuranda Range, with the Barron River Bridge set to be again reduced to a single lane from Monday for more than a month.

Further monitoring and testing is being carried out after significant repairs and examinations relegated the thoroughfare to one lane of traffic for most of last year.

Member for Barron River Craig Crawford said the latest round of works will see crews inspect about a thousand locations, including steel welds underneath the structure.

“We recently reopened both lanes over the Barron River bridge after successful investigations and repairs,” he said.

“What we’ll now be checking is that the bridge is continuing to perform as expected under two lanes of traffic.”

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The testing will take place between the hours of 9-AM and 4-PM, Monday to Saturday.

“We expect testing will wrap up in early March, weather conditions permitting,” Mr Crawford said.

The announcement comes amid a continuing lack of action surrounding pedestrian safety on the bridge.

During last year’s works, the pedestrian lane was switched to the westbound side to distribute heavier loads more evenly.

However, no bollards were erected to protect pedestrians, as recommended repeatedly by engineers.

Tropic Now has sought comment from the Barron River MP.

A $2.1 million planning study into the ongoing viability of the ageing structure is not due out until the end of this year.

Mr Crawford said it will confirm the preferred alignment and scope of a replacement bridge over the Barron River, while considering the ongoing management and rehabilitation of the existing one.

A separate report on a possible alternative route from Cairns to the Atherton Tablelands will be released on Friday.