A FLOOD-PRONE timber bridge in rural Ipswich will be replaced as part of a $5.7 million infrastructure upgrade designed to improve road safety and keep communities connected during severe weather.
The Federal Government has committed $4.5 million towards replacing the ageing Strongs Road Bridge at Lanefield, near Rosewood, under its Safer Local Roads Infrastructure Program.
The existing single-lane timber bridge, which crosses Western Creek, has long been vulnerable to flooding, with severe weather forcing road closures and disrupting access for local residents.
The replacement will see the 19.8m-long, 4.2m-wide timber structure demolished and replaced with a modern precast concrete bridge measuring 42.25 metres long and 5.96 metres wide.
The new structure will provide a wider, single-lane crossing accommodating traffic in both directions.
Federal Member for Blair Shayne Neumann said the investment would deliver a much-needed boost to Ipswich’s rural road network.
The bridge replacement had already been identified as a priority in Ipswich City Council’s 2025-26 Annual Plan.
