Have your say on best time to demolish bridge

A BRIDGE demolition set to close Bruce Highway access to Townsville from the north will be a staged, three- night operation.

An out- of- service railway overpass on the Bruce Highway at Yabulu needs demolition after it was damaged when hit by a high- load carrying vehicle in December last year.

The State Government is seeking feedback from motorists to determine when will be the best time to carry out the three- night job to remove the overpass. The demolition works are earmarked for late August or early September and will be scheduled to avoid Cowboys home games and school holidays.

A Department of Transport and Main Roads spokesman revealed how the demolition process would be carried out, after Queensland Rail tried to remove the damaged central bridge span in January.

Queensland Rail will be responsible for removing the overpass, with the removal to close the Bruce Highway at Yabulu “over a number of nights”.

Workers will mobilise the site before removing the overpass spans and piers, then reinstall batter protection and guardrails.

“The overpass does not pose any risk to passing motorists but it is important to demolish it now before it becomes a hazard,” the spokesman said.

The works have been proposed to take place between 8pm and 4am.