The notorious stretch of the Captain Cook Highway between Palm Cove and Craiglie is set for a multi-million upgrade.

Cook MP Jason O'Brien has welcomed the start of preliminary works on the $3.4 million project.

"Safety improvements are being made to 26 kilometres of winding coastal road, a section where there is very little room for driver error," he said.

"This is very important work, and I ask motorists to be patient while it is completed. There will inevitably be some disruption to traffic, but Main Roads is keeping it to a minimum."

The work will include some special measures to increase safety for motorcyclists.

More than two kilometres of new and upgraded guardrail will be installed at 18 priority locations on the road and more than 200 metres of "rub rail" installed at selected locations.

Improvements will include maximising traffic lane widths, and installing high visibility reflective pavement markers to help improve visibility at night and during rain or fog.

Additional high visibility warning signs will also be installed at various key locations.

Mr O'Brien said the safety works were being funded by the Bligh Labor Government's $66 million Safer Roads Sooner program.

"Preliminary work has already started and is expected to be completed by the end of June, weather permitting," he said.

"Works will be carried out during the day and night, to minimise disruption to motorists.

"Traffic will be reduced to one-lane through the work sites, with manual traffic control in place to minimise waiting times for motorists. I urge motorists to drive with due caution in and around the road works," he said.