A POLICE investigation has been launched after a truck carrying a wind turbine tower got stuck under a Warrego Highway overpass early on Friday morning, causing traffic delays and long detours.
After being lodged about 1.40am on Friday, the turbine was removed about 12 hours later, with Transport and Main Roads successfully re-opening the Warrego Highway westbound lanes on Sunday afternoon.
TMR have said they will continue to work on repairing the Mt Crosby Rd overpass, which remains closed, with at least a partial access opening planned for late this week.
Initial investigations suggest the driver of the oversized truck failed to follow escorting vehicles to an off ramp, instead continuing on the highway.
Queensland’s Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg said the truck had a permit requiring it to leave the highway via a roundabout.
“The escort took that trip, but the truck did not,” Mr Mickelberg said on Saturday.
“There will be an investigation from the Queensland Police Service and my department.
“Pending that investigation, we will take action as appropriate.
“We need to understand what happened here … and ensure it doesn’t happen in the future.”
The turbine had caused significant damage to the overpass and road, Mr Mickelberg said.
The turbine was removed with extreme care in small increments to allow engineers to assess the bridge structure.
It was removed from the site by Qube Haulage, the company whose vehicle was carrying it.
Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding initially feared the overpass could be closed for up to a year.
“I’m very grateful (in terms of the reopening timeline),” she said.
“I just ask for people to be a bit patient over the next week while those detours are in place.”
The driver of the truck, a man aged in his 50s, was taken to hospital for assessment.
