Materials have started piling up ahead of major works commencing to reinstate the Bloomfield Crossing.

Cairns Regional Council has engaged contractors for the $1.2 million project, with workers expected on site next week.

“Council realises the urgency of this project and materials were ordered well in advance of the 10 tonne load limit being lifted last week and these are now being delivered to site,” said Council’s Manager Infrastructure Management, Stephen Tyter.

“Work on the rough, four-wheel-drive only temporary crossing will start next week (week commencing 16 May) as an initial stage of the works and is expected to be completed within two weeks.

“We were not able to lock in delivery or commencement timeframes until we received advice from Cook Shire that the load limit had been lifted."

"To put these heavy loads on the road while it was still saturated would have caused significant and costly damage to the road. We are very aware of the hardship being experienced by the people and businesses who rely on the crossing and it is very pleasing to be able to make a start."

"We will be organising construction work to allow limited 4WD access over the crossing on specific days and at specific times.. I am mindful though that we need to minimise disruptions to the work to reinstate the crossing - the faster we can get the job done, the better,” Mr Tyter said.

Times when limited four-wheel-drive access will be available will be confirmed as construction proceeds.