Back to the Future? Yandina-Coolum Road Slammed as ‘Corduroy Highway’ Returns a Century On
A Sunshine Coast Road once cobbled together with logs and swamp mud in the 1920s is drawing sharp criticism for barely being any better in 2025.
Yandina-Coolum Road, a crucial 17km link between hinterland towns and the coast, is being called “dangerous and inadequate” by the Coolum Residents Association (CRA), with locals comparing the drive to a century-old “roller-coaster ride” along what was once known as the ‘corduroy highway’.
Despite carrying nearly 6600 vehicles a day, the road — which snakes through flood-prone wetlands and supports heavy traffic including trucks, tourists, and school runs — has seen 116 people injured in crashes over the past six years. And yet, according to Queensland’s Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR), there are no current plans for major upgrades.
A Century of Patching, Not Progress
Back in 2021, a 5km stretch was resealed between the highway and Valdora Road, but community groups say this barely scratches the surface. The CRA says some sections feel like they haven’t improved in 100 years.
“Users today say they could almost be back in the 1920s travelling the ‘corduroy highway’,” a CRA spokesperson told Sunshine Coast News. “It’s narrowness, patchwork surface, and ditches with steep drop-offs make it dangerous, especially in the wet.”
Yandina and District Community Association president Marie Reeve echoed those concerns, labelling it a “priority road” that connects the Bruce Highway to key growth areas like Coolum, Ninderry, Valdora, and multiple industrial estates.
“It’s the main beach route for Yandina residents, and a key corridor for workers, students, tourists, and heavy vehicles,” Ms Reeve said. “But it has non-existent shoulders, poor visibility, and flooding issues across the flats.”
Safety and Active Transport Lacking
Both community groups have highlighted the road’s lack of active transport options, particularly for cyclists.
“It’s far too narrow and dangerous for bikes — and some sections have sheer drop-offs into the wetlands,” Ms Reeve warned.
Locals have been vocal online, with many sharing frustrations that echo the associations’ stance.
• Jayne Crow said the road was “barely coping” and “a patchwork of filled potholes and bad repairs.”
• Rhys Cooper described it as “an accident waiting to happen.”
• Matty Whittaker quipped: “Don’t even get me started… It’s one of the worst roads/roller-coaster rides ever. The amount of times I crack my head on my cab roof…”
Government’s Position
TMR said the road is regularly monitored and maintained, and that any identified safety issues are addressed promptly. While acknowledging no current upgrades are planned, they noted that priorities are reviewed based on need and available funding.
Meanwhile, the Sunshine Motorway interchange with Yandina-Coolum Road is being eyed for a significant upgrade. Plans include duplication of the motorway from Pacific Paradise to Coolum Beach, a new grade-separated flyover, and improved active transport links. Ms Reeve believes this project will play a key role in alleviating congestion at the Coolum end.
But residents say it’s not enough.
“This road is beyond band-aid solutions,” said the CRA. “It needs a complete rebuild through the wetlands and a vision for long-term resilience — not just patch-ups from the past.”
Time for Action?
As traffic increases and industrial development ramps up in both Coolum and Yandina, the call is growing louder: fix Yandina-Coolum Road before it’s too late.
For now, though, drivers are stuck navigating what some say still feels like a bumpy track through history, only now with a lot more cars.
