Peninsula Developmental Road

The Peninsula Developmental Road (PDR) runs 571 km from Lakeland to Weipa. It is the main road transport link within Cape York Peninsula and to the rest of the Australian mainland.

The segment from Weipa Town to 43 km south of the town is within the Rio Tinto mine lease. The 43 km within the Rio Tinto mine lease boundary is not part of the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads controlled road. The department excluded this 43 km section from its official PDR calculations.

The segment from Lakeland to the Rio Tinto boundary is 466 km and is under Transport and Main Roads control.

Road conditions
200 km of 571 km from Lakeland to Weipa is currently unsealed road (as of April 2022). The condition of the unsealed road is highly variable. Mud, sand, dust, gravel and dirt corrugations are some of the road conditions subject to change of weather conditions.

A five-year program of sealing work joint funded by the Federal and State governments through the Cape York Region Package commenced in 2014. As of December 2015, 68.8 km of new road has been sealed through the Cape York Region Package. As at June 2019, a total of 173 km will be sealed under the package, leaving only 200. km of 571 km unsealed.

Upgrades
The Roads of Strategic Importance initiative, last updated in March 2022, includes the following projects for the Peninsula Developmental Road.

Corridor upgrade
A lead project to upgrade the Cooktown to Weipa corridor, including the Peninsula Developmental Road and surrounding state and council roads, at an estimated cost of $323.1 million, was commenced in 2020, with an expected completion in mid-2024.

Progressive sealing
A project for progressive sealing of sections of the Peninsula Developmental Road at a cost of $190 million is planned to be completed by mid-2024.

Cape York community access roads
A project to upgrade five roads that link Cape York communities to the Peninsula Development Road, at a cost of $47.5 million is due for completion in mid-2024.

List of towns, localities and points of interest along the highway

 * Lakeland
 * Laura
 * Coen
 * Archer River