INVESTMENT IN BRIDGES PAYS DIVIDENDS FOR REGION

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Published
12 June 2019
Bridge concrete

More than $4 million has been allocated to the replacement and rehabilitation of bridges across the Scenic Rim in 2019-20.

Mayor Cr Greg Christensen said Council was continuing to invest significantly in bridges as part of a long-term strategy to address the high number of ageing timber structures across the region.

"Council remains committed to prioritising the renewal of the region's ageing timber bridges with contemporary concrete or steel structures to help realise the shared Community Plan vision for an accessible and serviced region," he said.

"We expect that by the end of 2019-20, the number of timber bridges in our regional network will be 63, down from 97 in 2011.

"More contemporary structures constructed with steel and concrete are safer, more resilient, require less maintenance and, importantly, are free of load limits, which is a significant benefit for our rural community which relies on the movement of modern heavy vehicles and farm equipment."

Cr Christensen said the most significant projects in Council's 2019-20 bridge program will be the continuation of works from 2018-19, co-funded by Council and the Australian Government's Bridges Renewal Program to replace S Todd Bridge at Bromelton, which has an additional allocation of $1.14 million, and Josephville Bridge, Josephville, which has been allocated $762,000.

Other key upcoming projects include the $780,000 upgrade of a culvert at Tarome Road, Tarome, which has been co-funded by Council and the Australian Government's Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program.

Across the region, $450,000 has been allocated to works on minor bridge rehabilitation and on major culverts and floodways.

Improvements at Benstead Bridge at Tabooba and Fressers Bridge at Harrisville have each been allocated $150,000.

"The renewal of our bridges will be welcomed, not only by Scenic Rim residents but also the growing number of visitors to our region who contribute more than $150 million annually to our local economy," Cr Christensen said.