New Mulgrave River Bridge six months ahead of schedule
Published Monday, 27 October, 2008 at 01:30 PM
Minister for Main Roads and Local Government
The Honourable Warren Pitt
The new Mulgrave River Bridge should be open to traffic by mid 2009, six months ahead of schedule, Main Roads Minister and Member for Mulgrave Warren Pitt announced during his inspection today.
Mr Pitt said the excellent progress being made on the new $48 million federally funded bridge was obvious to anyone who regularly travelled through Gordonvale over the existing bridge.
"Work on the 15 bridge piers is nearing completion and within the next two months, girders will be placed on the bridge piers,” said Mr Pitt, who is in Cairns for the regional sitting of Parliament this week.
“As a result of the progress made to date, Main Roads has advised that the new works should be available to traffic in June next year, weather permitting, six months ahead of the original completion date.
“This is great news for the local community, motorists, tourists, the freight sector and industry in the far north, and another example of the Bligh Government getting on with the job of building the vital infrastructure needed to secure the region’s future.
"People who regularly travel in and out of Cairns via Gordonvale can tell you the major impact and inconvenience caused when the current bridge floods.
"Most far north locals have a Mulgrave River bridge story where they have been forced to wait either side for hours on end or substantially alter their plans or even delay their journey.
"Now we are rolling out a series of crucial works, including this new bridge, that will significantly reduce the duration of closures on the Bruce Highway from Townsville to Cairns due to wet season flooding."
Mr Pitt said the State Government had played a major role in getting the project up and running.
"After cyclones Larry and Monica, flooding cut the Bruce Highway at the Mulgrave River and other locations around Tully and Ingham, hampering relief efforts.
"We were able to negotiate funding for a $348 million package from the Federal Government to address these flooding troublespots."
Federal Member for Leichhardt Jim Turnour said he knew how important improved roads and traffic flow were to local residents, particularly to those south of Cairns.
“This section of road is highly prone to flooding so it is tremendous to see construction running ahead of schedule,” Mr Turnour said.
“The good progress on the bridge demonstrates what can be achieved when the Federal and State governments work cooperatively together.”
Australian Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Anthony Albanese, said the new bridge was one component of the federally funded $348 million Accelerated Bruce Highway Upgrade Package.
"It represents our commitment to achieving greater flood immunity for one of the wettest parts of Australia," Mr Albanese said.
"The new bridge will stand five metres higher than the present one and is located on a better road alignment, about 30 metres upstream from the existing highway."
Mr Albanese said the flood immunity project south of Tully was also making excellent progress, with 10km of the 15km project now open to traffic, including the new Tully River Bridge.
"The project south of Ingham is now fully open to traffic, with improved flood immunity at Palm Creek."
A major environmental rehabilitation project is being carried out on the banks of the Mulgrave River as part of the upgrade.
Some 5000 native seedlings will be planted nearby as the project progresses and pest species will be removed.
Media contact: Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8819
Mr Pitt said the excellent progress being made on the new $48 million federally funded bridge was obvious to anyone who regularly travelled through Gordonvale over the existing bridge.
"Work on the 15 bridge piers is nearing completion and within the next two months, girders will be placed on the bridge piers,” said Mr Pitt, who is in Cairns for the regional sitting of Parliament this week.
“As a result of the progress made to date, Main Roads has advised that the new works should be available to traffic in June next year, weather permitting, six months ahead of the original completion date.
“This is great news for the local community, motorists, tourists, the freight sector and industry in the far north, and another example of the Bligh Government getting on with the job of building the vital infrastructure needed to secure the region’s future.
"People who regularly travel in and out of Cairns via Gordonvale can tell you the major impact and inconvenience caused when the current bridge floods.
"Most far north locals have a Mulgrave River bridge story where they have been forced to wait either side for hours on end or substantially alter their plans or even delay their journey.
"Now we are rolling out a series of crucial works, including this new bridge, that will significantly reduce the duration of closures on the Bruce Highway from Townsville to Cairns due to wet season flooding."
Mr Pitt said the State Government had played a major role in getting the project up and running.
"After cyclones Larry and Monica, flooding cut the Bruce Highway at the Mulgrave River and other locations around Tully and Ingham, hampering relief efforts.
"We were able to negotiate funding for a $348 million package from the Federal Government to address these flooding troublespots."
Federal Member for Leichhardt Jim Turnour said he knew how important improved roads and traffic flow were to local residents, particularly to those south of Cairns.
“This section of road is highly prone to flooding so it is tremendous to see construction running ahead of schedule,” Mr Turnour said.
“The good progress on the bridge demonstrates what can be achieved when the Federal and State governments work cooperatively together.”
Australian Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Anthony Albanese, said the new bridge was one component of the federally funded $348 million Accelerated Bruce Highway Upgrade Package.
"It represents our commitment to achieving greater flood immunity for one of the wettest parts of Australia," Mr Albanese said.
"The new bridge will stand five metres higher than the present one and is located on a better road alignment, about 30 metres upstream from the existing highway."
Mr Albanese said the flood immunity project south of Tully was also making excellent progress, with 10km of the 15km project now open to traffic, including the new Tully River Bridge.
"The project south of Ingham is now fully open to traffic, with improved flood immunity at Palm Creek."
A major environmental rehabilitation project is being carried out on the banks of the Mulgrave River as part of the upgrade.
Some 5000 native seedlings will be planted nearby as the project progresses and pest species will be removed.
Media contact: Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8819