Work to begin on a multi-million dollar project to upgrade a bridge in Queensland to accommodate Type 2 road trains
Work will soon begin on a multi-million dollar project to upgrade a bridge in Queensland to accommodate Type 2 road trains.
Main Roads Minister Warren Pitt awarded a $3.2 million contract to Daybridge Constructions to upgrade the Angellala Creek Bridge on the Warrego Highway between Morven and Charleville in the State’s south-west.
Pitt says the company will widen the existing 70-metre bridge from six metres to 9.3 metres between kerbs to better cater for heavy vehicles in the future and also improve safety in the area.
“I am pleased to be able to make this announcement and see it as an important step towards eventually giving Type 2 road trains access along this key freight link,” Pitt says.
Type 2 road trains are currently restricted in where they can travel, with those needing to go east from Charleville forced to deviate north through Augathella to reach Morven.
“These road trains are too long to travel safely on the current road between the two towns,” Pitt says.
“However, Main Roads has progressively been widening the Warrego Highway between Charleville and Morven in recent years to help these vehicles to eventually travel directly, saving the industry time and money.”
As well as widening the existing foundations, the upgrade will remove the existing deck and replace it with a new prestressed concrete deck such as those used on the Ward River bridge upgrade on Diamantina Developmental Road.
Pitt says heavy vehicles make up 16 percent of the 509 vehicle travelling each day between Morven and Charleville on the Warrego Highway.
“We need to have the infrastructure in place to meet existing and future demand for all vehicles,” he says.
The project will be completed late 2009.