More than 32,000 motorists, including about 4,000 heavy vehicle drivers, who use the westbound bridge crossing the Bremer River at Karalee on the Warrego Highway between Ipswich and Toowoomba each day were this week offered the hope that things will be getting better soon.
Speed and load restrictions were put in place on the 68-year-old bridge in 2023 after a Main Roads survey identified fatigue cracks in the steel girders and planning begun to find a fix that would strengthen the bridge and keep traffic flowing at the same time.
In a joint statement released on February 27, the Federal and Queensland State Government say the path to lifting restrictions is now clearer with a rehabilitation plan revealed and major works underway.
Those works will determine when the restrictions will be lifted, and at this point the only indication on timing is that they are expected to continue throughout 2026 and Queensland’s Transport and Main Roads (TMR) department will “provide further updates to the community as the project progresses”.
Original plans for fixing the bridge were to completely re-deck the structure – a process that would have involved closing the westbound bridge for six months while the work was completed.
TMR project information states the new “preferred solution consists of a range of rehabilitation works and additional steel girders that will extend the service life of the bridge and enable removal of the current speed restrictions”.
“This will be achieved with significantly reduced traffic impacts compared to other options,” it states.
“After completion, some larger oversize over-mass vehicles will still be required to use the eastbound bridge for westbound travel, as was the case prior to the bridge defects being identified in 2023.”
Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King says the updates are welcome news for users of the Warrego Highway.
“The necessary work has been done and it’s good news for the local community that there is now a solid plan and a positive way forward to repair the Bremer River Bridge,” King says.
“This bridge is a vital artery for the region and the national freight network, with about 32,000 vehicles crossing the Bremer River westbound bridge every day.
“This bridge is vital for tens of thousands of commuters who I’m sure will be relieved to see speed restrictions removed once the works are complete.”
Queensland Minister for Transport and Main Roads Brent Mickelberg said the community has been clear they want traffic flowing again.
“The plan we are now delivering is sensible and pragmatic,” Mickelberg says.
“It will fix the problem without causing unnecessary delays for commuters, respects taxpayers’ money, lifts speed restrictions and delivers decades more life from this bridge.”
About $85 million in joint Federal and State funding has been allocated for the project.