New concrete bridges will be built to withstand heavy vehicle movement
Five timber bridges on Dawson Highway between Calliope and Biloela will be replaced as part of Queensland government’s ongoing road improvement works.
The lumbar structures will be replaced with new concrete bridges that will allow improved heavy vehicle access between Port of Gladstone and agricultural depots in western Queensland.
State main roads and road safety minister Mark Bailey says the weight limitations on the timber bridges meant many trucks had to travel via Rockhampton, adding hundreds of kilometres to their journey.
The five timber bridges to be replaced are:
- Nine Mile Creek – 19km west of Calliope
- Catfish Creek – 22km west of Calliope
- Sheep Station Creek – 23km west of Calliope
- Maxwelton Creek – 38km west of Calliope
- Doubtful Creek – 44km west of Calliope.
The new bridges will also provide flood immunity in the region that sees periodic road closures due to flood damage on these bridges.
“The project will replace the long-standing timber bridges which will widen the Dawson Highway at these locations, increasing safety for all road users,” Bailey says.
“The old bridges had also previously been the subject of regular closures due to flooding.
“This project will deliver flood immunity above a Q50 level – one in 50 year flood.”
The move is part of the ongoing improvements works on Dawson Highway “to open up new transport opportunities for the region”.
The $40 million project is funded under Queensland’s State Infrastructure Plan.