The condition of Bloomfield Road has been heavily criticised by drivers following last year’s flood disaster but Cook Shire Council has announced reconstruction works at high-priority sites have now commenced. Photo: Cape York Weekly.
Cook Shire Council has commenced significant recovery and reconstruction works on the battered Bloomfield Road it says mark a major step forward in the region’s recovery from the catastrophic flood event of December 2023.
The council said while temporary repairs had helped maintain access to the road since the disaster, the commencement of permanent works was now possible after funding was secured and geotechnical surveys completed.
Funding for the project has been made available under federal-state Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.
The road provides a vital link to Cooktown for Wujal Wujal, Bloomfield, Rossville and Ayton residents, with many parts currently requiring careful navigation to avoid damage to vehicles.
The reconstruction program will be delivered in multiple stages to prioritise critical sites and work on high-priority sites intended to be completed before the 2024 wet season.
Cook Shire Mayor Robyn Holmes thanked the community for its patience and said restoring the road to full functionality was at the forefront of the council’s priorities.
“Restoring Bloomfield Road is crucial to keeping our community connected and ensuring safety, especially with the wet season approaching,” she said.
“Council is doing everything it can to complete the repairs and reopen the road to full functionality as soon as possible [and] we thank the community for its patience.”
Member for Cook Cynthia Lui said “getting started on the reconstruction of key sections of Bloomfield Road is a critical step in the region’s recovery”.
“Bloomfield Road is a project that matters to Cape residents and visitors ahead of the wet season,” Ms Lui said.
The program includes both standard and specialised treatments across several critical sites, such as full-width road reconstruction, culvert repairs, slope stabilisation and pothole repairs.
