but this route would be more beneficial to the Shire of Mareeba rather than to the Shire of Eacham, so the original plan proceeded (although the Kuranda Range Road would later be built in 1940).

By March 1925, 150 men were employed building the road. It was officially opened on Saturday 10 July 1926 allowing travel between Cairns to the Tableland in 2½ hours. However, as the road was only wide enough for one-way traffic,