AFTER years of delays and reduced speed limits, anticipated repair works to the Bremer River Bridge on the Warrego Highway have been downgraded.
A Department of Transport and Main Roads spokesman said the concrete deck would be left intact and rehabilitation work would involve works to the steel girders from the underside of the structure.
“This option will minimise prolonged road closures and community impacts,” the spokesman said.
The State Government had been considering re-decking the westbound bridge, which was built in 1958 and supports about 30,000 westbound vehicles per day, more than 4000 of these being heavy vehicles.
Detailed investigations of the Bremer River Bridge carried out by TMR, including structural condition assessments, material testing and options assessments, identified fatigue cracks in the steel girders.
TMR said welding works had been completed to ensure the bridge remained safe, and the further rehabilitation and strengthening works would extend the life of the existing bridge structure.
Works are expected to begin late this year and be completed late next year.
Asked when reduced speed limits would be lifted, the spokesman indicated they would likely remain until the project was completed.
“TMR is currently completing the design for the rehabilitation works to allow for both lanes and normal speed limits to be restored.”
The Federal and State Government have allocated $85 million in joint funding.
Despite the expensive option of re-decking being scrapped, the TMR spokesman said the $85 million would still be allocated to the rehabilitation works on the Bremer River Bridge.
State Minister for Transport and Main Roads Brent Mickelberg said the Government would prioritise safety upgrades on the Toowoomba to Dalby section of the Warrego Highway.
The Toowoomba stretch of the highway carries 15,000 vehicles a day, half the vehicles travelling the highway at the Bremer River Bridge.
State Member for Ipswich West Wendy Bourne accused the Government of bypassing Ipswich.
“While prioritising safety upgrades on the Warrego highway between Toowoomba and Dalby is great news for those local communities, our Ipswich West community is none the wiser when it comes to when our much-needed infrastructure is being fixed, how much will it cost, and where the savings are going,” Ms Bourne said.
“If the full $42.5 million (State Government contribution) is no longer required for the Bremer River Bridge, those funds should stay in Ipswich West and be redirected to other local road infrastructure priorities.”
