Member for Barron River, Steve Wettenhall said the project started late last week and will continue until the end of August to widen a curve near the bottom of the range near Avondale Creek, 1.4km from Smithfield.

"I ask drivers to please be patient during this month-long project. The works will require single lane road closures, traffic controllers and speed reductions to 40km/h between 9am and 3pm," Mr Wettenhall said.

 "These works will really improve safety for motorists travelling up and down the range with a tight curve to be widened, visibility improved and extra asphalt laid," he said.

"These $300,000 works are being carried out under the $66 million Safer Roads Sooner program, which is designed to help reduce the road toll and the number of accidents where people sustain serious injuries.

Minister for Main Roads Craig Wallace said the improvements will be a welcome boost to safety for motorists who commute to and from Kuranda on the vital road link.

"The department has also started planning the final set of works for extra road widening, gabion wall construction and soil nail installation to be undertaken about 4km from Smithfield.

"These curve widening works are in addition to more than $326,000 worth of Intelligent Transport Systems for Vehicle Activated Signs (VAS) with additional wet weather sensors.

"These signs will replace Variable Message Signs (VMS) at the top and bottom of the range and are scheduled to be installed later this month.