The highway services an important sheep and cattle grazing region, tourist traffic and local properties.

The project for pavement widening and strengthening between Longreach and Winton (Package 1) was completed in early 2020 at a total cost of $27 million.

A lead project to upgrade the Mount Isa to Rockhampton corridor, including sections of the Landsborough and Capricorn Highways and surrounding state and council roads, at an estimated cost of $237.5 million, was in the planning and scoping stage.

[5] A project to strengthen and widen pavement 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) north of Winton, at a cost of $4 million, was completed in June 2021.

[6] A project to strengthen and widen pavement 23 kilometres (14 mi) north-west of Winton, at a cost of $6 million, was completed in December 2021.