New rural highway bridge in Queensland covers scars of 2014 truck explosion
Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced a new Angellala Creek bridge has been completed ahead of schedule; opening 14 months after an overturned truck caused it to collapse.
“It was remarkable that no-one was killed in last year’s devastating explosion,” Palaszczuk says.
“This bridge on the Mitchell Highway is an important freight link for B-doubles, road trains and other heavy vehicles.
“I congratulate workers on this project in getting it finished ahead of schedule.”
The accident occurred when a vehicle carrying ammonium nitrate tipped on the rural highway, destroying the bridge, injuring eight people, and initially shutting down the transport route between Cunnamulla and Charleville.
Responding to the Mitchell Highway explosion, Queensland’s Department of Transport and Main Roads completed a sealed side track suitable for all vehicles, including Type 2 road trains, in three weeks, allowing traffic to resume in October last year.
The road body’s efforts to halve the estimated down time for the route was recognised this week at the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport Australia (CILTA) awards event, where it received an Excellence in Moving Freight commendation.
Also present at the opening of the $7 million bridge, main roads minister Mark Bailey says the new version “provides a much safer crossing” for commuters, “and protects against a possible one in 15 year flood event, it is wider and one metre higher than the previous structure.”