From the start to this point the road has a four-lane divided carriageway, which reverts to two lanes undivided just west of the Bruce Highway.

It runs parallel to the Black River as it approaches the ascent of the Hervey Range.

It continues west, passing the exit to Dotswood Road to the south and crossing several creeks and the Star River before reaching the Burdekin River, which it crosses into the locality of Basalt.

[7] A project to widen more than 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) of this road, at a cost of $8.9 million, was to be completed late in 2021.

It runs west as State Route 72, crossing Douglas-Garbutt Road (Nathan Street), for 8.1 kilometres (5.0 mi) to Kirwan, where it ends at an intersection with Garbutt–Upper Ross Road (Thuringowa Drive / Riverway Drive), while State Route 72 continues west on Hervey Range Road.

The railway opened in 1882, effectively replacing a two-day coach ride from Townsville for new arrivals.