THE Southern Downs has two brand new bridges now in operation with the Bellingham Road and Mullins Road bridge replacements completed.
The two bridges were made possible through the Queensland Government’s ‘Royalties for Regions’ program, receiving $2.64 million, on a 75:25 basis for four bridge replacement projects with a total estimated cost of $3.52 million.
Southern Downs Regional Council’s Mayor Tracy Dobie was very pleased to see these projects finalised.
“Council has a number of old timber bridges within our road network and staff have worked hard to prepare submissions for funding of new bridges or bridge repairs,” she said.
“Receipt of the Royalties for Regions program funding was definitely a coup and has contributed towards the replacement of two old timber bridges in our region; Bellinghams Road Bridge and Mullins Road Bridge, which were previously load-limited, with new and improved concrete structures, along with a further two currently under construction,” she said.
Cr Dobie highlighted that the new bridges would provide a range of positive outcomes including increased driver safety and freight efficiencies for movement of local produce and access by farm machinery and environmental improvements to the creek areas and floodways.
“For the residents and surrounding communities in the vicinity, these new concrete bridges will make a huge difference to people’s daily lives.
“Both bridges are important transport links for not only residents, but farmers and producers, and local businesses.
“The upgrades will improve both the road network and safety of road users, and allow better access to these communities for emergency services.”
Southern Downs director Engineering Services Peter See the council had engaged Ozwide Bridge Rail and Civil Pty Ltd in January 2016 to undertake the design and construction of the two replacement bridges along with the associated road approaches and civil works and the demolition of the existing timber bridges.
“The newly completed Bellinghams Road and Mullins Road bridges are both single span, two lane concrete bridges,” he said.
“All bridge and road works for both projects were completed within the timeframes and within budget, at an estimated cost of $667,000 for Bellinghams Road Bridge and $605,000 for the Mullins Road Bridge.
“Ozwide has done a great job bringing these projects in on time and on budget, and with a quality finish.”
The former bridges were single span, single lane timber bridges, and structural condition surveys had identified that both bridges were no longer suitable for traffic.
The old Bellinghams Road Bridge, which crosses the Condamine River on Bellinghams Road (Elbow Valley), operated under a load restriction of 5 tonne, and the former timber Mullins Road Bridge, which crosses Campbell Gully on Mullins Road (Womina), had been closed to traffic, with a road operating through a side track adjacent to the bridge.
Construction is continuing on the Sandy Creek Road and Tummaville Road bridge upgrades, and both projects are expected to be completed later this month.
