Monster pothole fix nears
WORK to repair an enormous sinkhole at Edmonton could finally start next week, more than two months after the road was swallowed up by the infernal abyss.
A yawning fissure spectacularly washed out of the Sandy Creek crossing on Mount Peter Rd during heavy downpours in April and the collapsed thoroughfare has been closed to traffic since.
Cairns Regional Council infrastructure services general manager Bruce Gardiner said the existing culvert was damaged beyond repair and required total replacement.
“In order to reduce the future flood risk, a decision was made to install a larger diameter pipe – being 4.5m in diameter, increased from 3.6m,” he said.
“This will provide flood immunity to a Q50 (one-in-50- year) level. The pipe needs to be manufactured off-site with an expected time frame of about six weeks.”
The council’s infrastructure committee yesterday heard the pipe should arrive by the end of next week, meaning preparation work could start after the weekend.
“Once the new pipe is installed, headwalls will be constructed in two stages, allowing the road to reopen to one lane of traffic,” he said.
“We expect this will occur in early May.
“Attempts were made to create a temporary crossing until permanent repairs could be carried out.
“Unfortunately, this could not be done safely, due to the extent of the structural damage.”
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