The Burke Developmental Road is a Queensland (Australia) developmental road. It links Cloncurry and Normanton in a south–north direction, then turns to the north-east 30 km (19 mi) north of Normanton for 230 km (140 mi) before turning south-east till Dimbulah, where it becomes the Mareeba Dimbulah Road.[2]
The road crosses the Gilbert River. This bridge was named after two of the region's indigenous leaders, Lily and Jubilee Slattery.[3] A major unsealed section begins about 45 km (28 mi) north of Normanton and continues until Chillagoe. As of 2014, some sections totaling about 15 km (9.3 mi) are unsealed between Chillagoe and Dimbulah. It may become impassable during the wet season. In mid-2007, A$28 million worth of funding was allocated for the widening of the road.[4]
The Northern Australia Beef Roads Program announced in 2016 included two projects for the Burke Developmental Road.
The project for progressive sealing works between Chillago and Almaden (Package One) was completed in early 2020 at a total cost of $4.7 million.[5]
The project for progressive sealing works between Chillago and Almaden (Package Two) was completed in early 2020 at a total cost of $2.7 million.[6]
A project to replace the Butcher Creek bridge, at a cost of $10.7 million, was completed in December 2021.[7]
A project to progressively seal sections of the road between Normanton and Dimbulah, at a cost of $14 million, was expected to complete in June 2022.[8]
Another project to progressively seal sections of the road between Almaden and Chillagoe, at a cost of $14.8 million, was to be completed by late 2022.[9]