Bridge plans shape up
Announcement expected on traffic flow changes
AN ANNOUNCEMENT on how traffic flow will change following urgent repairs on the Barron River Bridge is expected within “a week or so” with the possibility of it returning to a two-lane operation.
In February, 2020 the Department of Transport and Main Roads imposed a load limit of 50.5 tonnes and since November last year commuters have been reduced to a crawl by traffic lights regulating vehicle movements.
Then just a week after TMR announced it would be conducting essential welding repairs over four weeks from August 16, TMR directorgeneral Neil Scales pushed that completion date back to “at least October” at an estimates hearing.
Barron River MP Craig Crawford said TMR regional director Sanjay Ram presentadvice ed at a forum on Monday to provide updates on road projects in the region.
“So the temporary works underneath are about to be complete.
“(Mr Ram has) received all the advice from engineers around what that means for weight limits, the flow of traffic, everything like that.
“They’re working on what that could look like, they’ve got options on the table to look at, like maybe getting two-way traffic back and getting us as close as possible to what traffic was like before.
“We should see some announcement from him in the next week or two.”
A TMR spokesman said works were on track to be completed in October.
“We are considering the findings of these investigations and will provide further as soon as possible about a potential return to two-way operation. We have invited tenders for a $2.1m planning project to replace or improve the bridge.
“Planning is expected to be complete in late 2022.”
Mr Crawford said TMR had also set a “hard opening date” of the Smithfield Bypass which he expected was November 28, but was not confirmed by the department.
“The Smithfield Bypass project is on schedule for completion in late November, weather permitting,” the spokesman said. “Crews will complete the southern extension at the intersection of Captain Cook Highway and Cairns Western Arterial Road over the coming weeks. They will also be completing asphalt and tie-in works, and the shared pathway.”