Published Tuesday, 30 September, 2008 at 10:19 AM
Minister for Main Roads and Local Government
The Honourable Warren Pitt
Littabella Creek and Mullet Creek bridge replacements
Two new concrete bridges are under construction near Bundaberg as part of a Main Roads initiative to accelerate the replacement of highly trafficked wooden bridges across southern Queensland.
The bridges at Littabella Creek and Mullet Creek are located 28 kilometres and 35 kilometres north of Bundaberg, on the Bundaberg-Lowmead Road.
Main Roads Minister Warren Pitt said the upgrade would include replacing the existing timber structures with reinforced concrete bridges.
“Both bridges and their immediate approaches will be upgraded to improve durability, while increasing visibility and safety for motorists,” Mr Pitt said.
“Freight traffic has a significant impact on the older timber bridges, requiring ongoing maintenance using scarce and valuable timber.
“Upgrading to new concrete bridges means very little ongoing maintenance is required, as the structures are better suited to carrying modern vehicle volumes and load weights.”
Main Roads is working to minimise disruption to traffic during the works. Motorists will use sidetracks around the bridge sites, where speed will be reduced to 40km/h to protect the safety of motorists and construction workers.
Works on both bridges and their approaches should be completed in February 2009, weather permitting.
The bridge replacements at Littabella Creek and Mullet Creek form part of the $126.5 million Southern Queensland Accelerated Road Rehabilitation Program (SQARRP).
SQARRP is a Main Roads initiative that aims to accelerate the replacement of 31 older timber bridges throughout southern Queensland to better meet current and future freight demands.
“Through accelerating the bridge replacement program, we are looking at saving generous amounts of time and resources,” Mr Pitt said.
“Many of these bridges were built more than 60 years ago and have experienced traffic volumes and loads in excess of their original capacity, resulting in increased maintenance costs.
“The bridges being replaced have been selected on the basis of their location on key transportation routes, current condition and potential future usage.
“All salvageable timber from these bridge replacement works will be given to RoadTek, Main Roads’ construction arm, to conduct repairs on remaining timber bridges around southern Queensland.”
Littabella Creek Bridge and Mullet Creek Bridge are two of ten bridges within the Bundaberg region being replaced under SQARRP.
Philpott Creek Bridge at Mundubbera and Woowoonga Creek Bridge at Biggenden were both successfully completed in February 2008, while Sandy Creek Bridge at Childers was completed in mid-2006.
Media contact: Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8819
The bridges at Littabella Creek and Mullet Creek are located 28 kilometres and 35 kilometres north of Bundaberg, on the Bundaberg-Lowmead Road.
Main Roads Minister Warren Pitt said the upgrade would include replacing the existing timber structures with reinforced concrete bridges.
“Both bridges and their immediate approaches will be upgraded to improve durability, while increasing visibility and safety for motorists,” Mr Pitt said.
“Freight traffic has a significant impact on the older timber bridges, requiring ongoing maintenance using scarce and valuable timber.
“Upgrading to new concrete bridges means very little ongoing maintenance is required, as the structures are better suited to carrying modern vehicle volumes and load weights.”
Main Roads is working to minimise disruption to traffic during the works. Motorists will use sidetracks around the bridge sites, where speed will be reduced to 40km/h to protect the safety of motorists and construction workers.
Works on both bridges and their approaches should be completed in February 2009, weather permitting.
The bridge replacements at Littabella Creek and Mullet Creek form part of the $126.5 million Southern Queensland Accelerated Road Rehabilitation Program (SQARRP).
SQARRP is a Main Roads initiative that aims to accelerate the replacement of 31 older timber bridges throughout southern Queensland to better meet current and future freight demands.
“Through accelerating the bridge replacement program, we are looking at saving generous amounts of time and resources,” Mr Pitt said.
“Many of these bridges were built more than 60 years ago and have experienced traffic volumes and loads in excess of their original capacity, resulting in increased maintenance costs.
“The bridges being replaced have been selected on the basis of their location on key transportation routes, current condition and potential future usage.
“All salvageable timber from these bridge replacement works will be given to RoadTek, Main Roads’ construction arm, to conduct repairs on remaining timber bridges around southern Queensland.”
Littabella Creek Bridge and Mullet Creek Bridge are two of ten bridges within the Bundaberg region being replaced under SQARRP.
Philpott Creek Bridge at Mundubbera and Woowoonga Creek Bridge at Biggenden were both successfully completed in February 2008, while Sandy Creek Bridge at Childers was completed in mid-2006.
Media contact: Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8819