Construction is set to begin this week on a 29km section of the Peninsula Developmental Road north of Coen on Cape York Peninsula in Queensland, Australia.

The project is funded under the Cape York Region Package, a programme of works jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland Governments to upgrade critical infrastructure on Cape York.

Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Warren Truss said: "This project aims to improve accessibility to Cape York Peninsula for the local community and benefit local industries.

"This project aims to improve accessibility to Cape York Peninsula for the local community and benefit local industries."

"An average of 91 direct jobs will be supported over the life of this project and the contractor CMC has made significant commitments to include employment and training opportunities for Indigenous employees.

"As well, CMC has indicated it intends to use a significant number of sub-contractors local to the Cape region."

For the A$260m ($185.2m) Cape York Region Package the Australian and Queensland Governments are funding A$208m ($148.1m) and A$52m ($37m), respectively.

Queensland minister for main roads Mark Bailey said: "It was much-needed boost for the local area.

"This project represents a significant investment in Cape York’s road infrastructure and importantly will support tourism and local jobs.

"With construction starting this week, works will be fast-tracked to seek to ensure completion before the wet season."

The project will provide improvements to drainage, as well as pavement works and bitumen sealing to produce an 8.5m-wide sealed road.

Following completion, the drive will be much safer for the growing number of people who depend on this road, including locals, tourists and transport operators.