A serious traffic incident has caused significant disruption on a major coastal route in Far North Queensland, with authorities warning drivers to expect lengthy delays or seek alternative routes.
Crash Closes Lanes on Busy Coastal Corridor
Emergency services were called to the Captain Cook Highway near Yorkeys Knob following reports of a collision on Tuesday morning. The crash, which occurred around 9:30 am, involved multiple vehicles and resulted in one person being transported to hospital for treatment.
Queensland Police confirmed they were managing the scene, with initial reports indicating the incident was serious enough to block several lanes of the vital highway. The Captain Cook Highway is a key arterial road connecting Cairns with northern beaches suburbs and is typically busy with commuter and tourist traffic.
Traffic Chaos and Commuter Advice
The lane closures triggered immediate and severe congestion in both directions. Motorists travelling towards the city from the northern beaches faced extensive queues, while those heading out of Cairns also experienced major slowdowns.
Transport authorities and police issued clear advice to the public. Drivers were urged to avoid the area entirely if possible and consider delaying their journeys until the situation was resolved. For those already caught in the backlog, patience was advised, with significant delays expected to continue for several hours during the peak morning period.
While one lane was eventually reopened to allow some traffic to flow, the cleanup and investigation efforts meant full access was not restored immediately. Traffic management crews were deployed to assist with the flow of vehicles around the incident site.
Ongoing Investigations and Road Safety Reminder
The cause of the crash is now under investigation by forensic crash unit officers. Police have not released specific details regarding the circumstances leading up to the collision but are expected to examine all factors.
This incident serves as a stark reminder for all road users, particularly on busy highways like the Captain Cook Highway. Drivers are encouraged to:
- Leave extra travel time for their journeys, especially during peak hours.
- Maintain a safe following distance from other vehicles.
- Pay close attention to changing traffic conditions and obey directions from emergency services.
Real-time traffic updates for the Cairns region can be found via the Queensland Traffic website or popular navigation apps, which were actively rerouting users around the congestion hotspot throughout the morning.
