[1] The road has been closed from Little Nerang Dam since Cyclone Debbie with repairs expected to be completed before 2019.

Prior to settlement in 1906, the only access consisted of a walking trail on the western side that ended up in the Numinbah Valley.

Jim Hardy and George Trapp blazed the Mudgeeraba track by following the ridge that separates the east and west branches of Little Nerang Creek.

By skirting round the flanks of Mount Nimmel, they managed to reach the dirt track that linked Mudgeeraba with the little cluster of farms near Neranwood.

A Swiss engineer named Juries was employed to conduct the initial survey, due to his experience in mountainous country.

Fred Parkes, the Main Roads engineer and Tom Peters who represented the Nerang Shire, were grateful for his expertise.

The terrain was so rough and steep that it was necessary to dig toeholds into the sheer hillsides, to enable the men to safely carry the delicate survey instruments to the next position.

He commenced work at Rathbone's crossing in March 1925 and reached the eastern bank of the Little Nerang Creek in February 1926.

The sign erected at the toll gates at the base of Wunburra Range, just above the present Neranwood Park, proclaimed the times that traffic was allowed to travel up or down the narrow one-way road.

She was on call 24 hours a day, irrespective of the weather or personal considerations and received the sum of 30 shillings a week.

The timber decking has been replaced, and signs at both ends of the Springbrook–Mudgeeraba Road remind motorists that the bridges are not suitable for large vehicles.

The road, which is bitumened and in all but four small sections two way, rises generally in a southerly direction over a distance of approximately 22.5 kilometres (14.0 mi).

Recent timber decking covers both of the bridges, which are aligned with the adjacent bitumen road.

The area of the lower, southern facing road is of high aesthetic value beauty with large dramatic cuttings of the mountainous volcanic stone surmounted by natural vegetation.

It consists of a concrete and rock viewing platform looking out over the valley with a simple chain wire safety fence.

Surmounting the cairn is a flat brass disc is a north point with place direction references.

[8] Springbrook Road and Associated Infrastructure was listed on the Queensland Heritage Register on 22 October 1999 having satisfied the following criteria.

Lookouts that allow motorists to stop and enjoy the panoramic views have been popular since the road's completion.

[1] The curved timber bridges have technological significance, as they are very early examples of this kind to be built in Queensland.

The Pioneer Memorial Cairn, included within the heritage register boundary at Hardy's Lookout, has social significance as a record of the early Springbrook settlers.