Published Tuesday, 08 January, 2008 at 12:34 PM
Minister for Main Roads and Local Government
The Honourable Warren Pitt
New culvert improves safety on Sarina-Homebush Road
The old timber bridge over Running Creek on Sarina-Homebush Road has been replaced with a new large concrete culvert.
Main Roads Minister Warren Pitt said the new culvert and road approach works had cost $1.2 million and would improve safety for motorists on Sarina-Homebush Road.
Mr Pitt said the project was undertaken as a part of the Queensland Government’s Regional Bridge Renewal Program.
Under the Regional Bridge Renewal Program, ageing and obsolete bridges are replaced with structures able to accommodate current and future freight loads and traffic demands.
“The new structures will be a significant improvement on the old timber bridge, and the crossing has been widened to allow for two lanes,” Mr Pitt said.
“The replacement of the old bridge will reduce maintenance requirements, improve local residents' access to the community and provide safer access with the double-lane bridge.”
Mr Pitt said the bridge was demolished in October to allow the replacement structure to be built.
“The timber will be recycled and some parts of the bridge will be used for maintaining other timber bridges in the Mackay area,” he said.
Linemarking on the new work will be completed next month.
Other timber bridges in the region that were identified under the Regional Bridge Renewal Program include: Black Waterhole Creek on the Peak Downs Highway and David Burgess Bridge on Mackay-Eungella Road, which were completed in 2007; Sandy Creek Bridge on Homebush Road, which is due for completion next month; and Twelve Mile Creek on the Oxford Downs-Sarina Road and McGregor Creek on the Mirani-Mt Ossa Road, which are due to start in mid 2008 and be finished in mid 2009.
Media contact: Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8819
Main Roads Minister Warren Pitt said the new culvert and road approach works had cost $1.2 million and would improve safety for motorists on Sarina-Homebush Road.
Mr Pitt said the project was undertaken as a part of the Queensland Government’s Regional Bridge Renewal Program.
Under the Regional Bridge Renewal Program, ageing and obsolete bridges are replaced with structures able to accommodate current and future freight loads and traffic demands.
“The new structures will be a significant improvement on the old timber bridge, and the crossing has been widened to allow for two lanes,” Mr Pitt said.
“The replacement of the old bridge will reduce maintenance requirements, improve local residents' access to the community and provide safer access with the double-lane bridge.”
Mr Pitt said the bridge was demolished in October to allow the replacement structure to be built.
“The timber will be recycled and some parts of the bridge will be used for maintaining other timber bridges in the Mackay area,” he said.
Linemarking on the new work will be completed next month.
Other timber bridges in the region that were identified under the Regional Bridge Renewal Program include: Black Waterhole Creek on the Peak Downs Highway and David Burgess Bridge on Mackay-Eungella Road, which were completed in 2007; Sandy Creek Bridge on Homebush Road, which is due for completion next month; and Twelve Mile Creek on the Oxford Downs-Sarina Road and McGregor Creek on the Mirani-Mt Ossa Road, which are due to start in mid 2008 and be finished in mid 2009.
Media contact: Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8819