Mossman Gorge's spectacular elevated boardwalk is a step nearer to completion with the start of stage two of the project.

Member for Cook Jason O'Brien today announced work had begun on the final phase of the $1.2 million boardwalk.

"The footings for the steel towers which will support the boardwalk were laid in December 2009," Mr O'Brien said.

"Steel components for the boardwalk are being fabricated off site by a local company. And construction on site is expected to take about three months."

Mr O'Brien said the boardwalk would extend from the carpark to the Mossman River lookout in Daintree National Park and would provide wheelchair and vision-impaired access.

"It's very important to me that all of the 400,000 people who visit Mossman Gorge every year are able to fully explore this World Heritage rainforest," Mr O'Brien said.

"The elevated boardwalk will carry visitors into the mid-canopy of the rainforest, giving a new and unique perspective on the huge variety of trees, creepers and epiphytes that make this lowland rainforest special."

Mr O'Brien said as much of the popular site would be kept open to visitors as possible during the construction period but some disruption to access was unavoidable.

"Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service is working closely with the tourism industry, Cairns Regional Council and the Mossman community to minimise disruptions to visitors during construction," he said.

A temporary parking area has been established just before the Mossman Gorge Aboriginal Community on Johnston Road and a free shuttle bus will run to and from Mossman Gorge and the temporary car park.

Buses will run continuously, departing about every 15 minutes, starting at 8am from the temporary car park. The last bus will leave the car park at 4.30pm and Mossman Gorge at 5.15pm.

The park will be open to the public from 8am to 5.30pm every day and a locked gate on the entrance road will prevent access after hours.

Mr O'Brien said local tour companies had been kept informed as the project progressed.

"Most small commercial tour buses with permits will still be able to drive into the park and drop visitors at the picnic area, and there will be limited parking for small buses along the entrance roadway," he said.

"To allow the new walkway to be built, the main walking track to the Mossman River lookout will be closed throughout the construction period, but all picnic areas and the River Loop walking track will stay open.

"The Mossman River lookout, the Rex Creek bridge and the Rainforest circuit track will remain accessible via the River Loop walking track for most of the time but will be closed for a few weeks when work is going on in the vicinity of the lookout.
 

"I've been assured that QPWS will provide advice on when these areas will be closed, closer to the time."

"When complete, the new boardwalk together with the suspension bridge will present a world-class experience for all visitors to Mossman Gorge," he said.

Dianne from Daintree Discovery Tours agrees. "It seems unfair that people who are vision impaired and aren't as mobile should miss out such a beautiful experience so I think the new walkway will be really good.

"They (Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service) are being very professional about how they're doing it and we are kept informed of what's going on," she said.