Action call on bridge repairs

FED up residents west of Townsville have slammed the repair time for a major bridge damaged in floodwaters, labelling it “unacceptable”.

One resident has now created a petition to the State Government calling for the urgent need to expedite work to repair the Alice River Bridge on Hervey Range Rd, west of Townsville.

“The Department of Transport and Main Roads’ time frame of six months is unacceptable,” Mary-anne Yardley, who started the petition said.

Residents now need to take an alternative route to get to Townsville.

“We feel it implies we are less important than other people affected by recent natural disasters and we reject the notion that being able to access services in Townsville via Black River Rd and the Bruce Highway makes it acceptable to endure a further six-month delay.

“Our right to convenient access to our work, education, health facilities, leisure activities, and to our families should be recognised.”

The bridge was damaged during Townsville’s record breaking flood event.

Ms Yardley said the bridge provided access to Townsville not only for those who live in the area but also many from the western and northwestern Queensland regions.

“Increasing traffic on an already dangerous section of the Bruce Highway past Black River Rd is an expensive way to solve the problem.

“Importantly, the fact we have a ‘go around’ is of no ben

WE FEEL IT IMPLIES WE ARE LESS IMPORTANT THAN OTHER PEOPLE AFFECTED BY RECENT NATURAL DISASTERS MARY-ANNE YARDLEY

efit to businesses on both sides of the bridge that are now struggling because people cannot conveniently access them.”

Ms Yardley said residents were also concerned about increased response times for emergency services required west of Black River Rd.

The petition is sponsored by Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto, who earlier this month called on the department to “fast-track the project immediately”.

“Transport and Main Roads are doing work on this in the background with engineering and planning, but the fact of the matter is residents are being grossly disadvantaged here,” he said at the beginning of April.

The department said last week Roadtek crews started earthworks around the bridge foundations to backfill sand that was severely eroded by floodwaters.

“Rock material will then be placed around the bridge piers to prevent further erosion,” it said. “These works will help to stabilise the bridge before crews commence repair works on the damaged bridge abutments.”

The department said the repairs were expected to take up to six months to complete, weather and site conditions permitting.