NEW BRIDGE REACHES ACROSS MAJOR INNER CITY ROADS
Published Sunday, 13 July, 2008 at 05:00 AM
JOINT STATEMENT
Minister for Public Works, Housing and Information and Communication Technology
The Honourable Robert Schwarten
Premier
The Honourable Anna Bligh
Massive concrete beams will be lifted across one of Brisbane’s busiest roadways this week as work on the $63.3 million Tank Street pedestrian and cycle bridge starts to take shape.
Queensland Premier Anna Bligh said two large concrete beams, each 25 metres long and weighing 55 tonnes are due to be lifted over North Quay by Friday.
The beams will support the bridge deck from the city to Kurilpa Point.
Ms Bligh said the delicate operation posed a major logistical challenge but was a spectacular example of the level of construction in south east Queensland.
“We are spending $1.6 million every hour of every day building and re-building infrastructure in this state - sometimes we have to do that in tight spaces,” she said.
“Make no mistake, there is little room for error here with around 150,000 vehicles crossing the Riverside Expressway every day.
“But this has been planned down to the last millimetre and by the end of the week motorists on the Riverside Expressway will be able to see some concrete evidence of the record levels of construction happening in this state.”
Contractor Baulderstone Hornibrook will soon start installing precast concrete spans from Tank Street to two newly erected piers.
The bridge spans will be supported by one pier located in Tank Street and by another pier between North Quay and the Riverside Expressway.
Minister Robert Schwarten said his department had worked tirelessly developing ways to limit traffic disruption and flow during the operation.
“Work on the North Quay overpass superstructure will mean alternative traffic arrangements at night from July 15 to17 and staggered night shifts through to July 31,” he said.
“Every effort will be made to minimise any inconvenience to motorists.”
Two one-thousand-tonne barges are on the Brisbane River as pile driving continues on the southern side of the river.
“On the southern-side a pre-cast concrete structure will be erected following completion of piled foundations so we can pour concrete for the second of the bridge’s two main river piers,” added Minister Schwarten.
The new bridge will allow cyclists and pedestrians to travel from Brisbane city to the new Millennium Arts Precinct at the Queensland Cultural Centre.
The bridge is on schedule to be completed in September 2009, in time for Queensland’s 150th anniversary celebrations.
In the first of the traffic changes, single lanes of North Quay and the Riverside Expressway will be temporarily closed from 10.00pm to 5.00am on Tuesday the 8th and Wednesday the 9th of July, to enable pier protection works.
City-bound motorists on North Quay will be detoured via the Expressway to the Elizabeth Street off-ramp.
Further alternative traffic arrangements will be in place at times during August and September 2008.
Additional information may be obtained from the Tank Street Community Liaison Advisor on 0438 733 289. For traffic reports, call 13 19 40.
Premiers (07) 32244500
Queensland Premier Anna Bligh said two large concrete beams, each 25 metres long and weighing 55 tonnes are due to be lifted over North Quay by Friday.
The beams will support the bridge deck from the city to Kurilpa Point.
Ms Bligh said the delicate operation posed a major logistical challenge but was a spectacular example of the level of construction in south east Queensland.
“We are spending $1.6 million every hour of every day building and re-building infrastructure in this state - sometimes we have to do that in tight spaces,” she said.
“Make no mistake, there is little room for error here with around 150,000 vehicles crossing the Riverside Expressway every day.
“But this has been planned down to the last millimetre and by the end of the week motorists on the Riverside Expressway will be able to see some concrete evidence of the record levels of construction happening in this state.”
Contractor Baulderstone Hornibrook will soon start installing precast concrete spans from Tank Street to two newly erected piers.
The bridge spans will be supported by one pier located in Tank Street and by another pier between North Quay and the Riverside Expressway.
Minister Robert Schwarten said his department had worked tirelessly developing ways to limit traffic disruption and flow during the operation.
“Work on the North Quay overpass superstructure will mean alternative traffic arrangements at night from July 15 to17 and staggered night shifts through to July 31,” he said.
“Every effort will be made to minimise any inconvenience to motorists.”
Two one-thousand-tonne barges are on the Brisbane River as pile driving continues on the southern side of the river.
“On the southern-side a pre-cast concrete structure will be erected following completion of piled foundations so we can pour concrete for the second of the bridge’s two main river piers,” added Minister Schwarten.
The new bridge will allow cyclists and pedestrians to travel from Brisbane city to the new Millennium Arts Precinct at the Queensland Cultural Centre.
The bridge is on schedule to be completed in September 2009, in time for Queensland’s 150th anniversary celebrations.
In the first of the traffic changes, single lanes of North Quay and the Riverside Expressway will be temporarily closed from 10.00pm to 5.00am on Tuesday the 8th and Wednesday the 9th of July, to enable pier protection works.
City-bound motorists on North Quay will be detoured via the Expressway to the Elizabeth Street off-ramp.
Further alternative traffic arrangements will be in place at times during August and September 2008.
Additional information may be obtained from the Tank Street Community Liaison Advisor on 0438 733 289. For traffic reports, call 13 19 40.
Premiers (07) 32244500