More bang for buck for bridges between Gladstone and Biloela
08 August 2018
Queensland Government:
The Palaszczuk Government is investigating new
highway upgrades after a $40 million project to replace long-standing
timber
bridges on the Dawson Highway in
Central
Queensland was been completed under budget and ahead of time
Minister for Transport and Main
Roads Mark Bailey said there were now five new
bridges between
Gladstone and Biloela.
The project, funded through the State Infrastructure Plan, has replaced
long-standing timber bridges at Nine Mile Creek, Catfish Creek, Sheep
Station Creek, Maxwelton Creek and Doubtful Creek.
Mr Bailey said the first of the new bridges opened to traffic in
December 2017, and with construction efficiencies achieved by the
contractor, site works were accelerated to enable the remaining four
bridges to open to traffic in April 2018.
“This project delivers immediate regional freight efficiency
improvements and flood immunity of the Dawson Highway,” Mr Bailey said.
“To complete construction of all five bridges in just 12 months, despite
two flash floods in 2017 inundating the worksites, is a tribute to the
technical capability of
Golding Contractors which delivered the project.
“We are already looking at opportunities to reinvest savings from this
project, which are about $14 million, into further upgrades of the
Dawson Highway to deliver road safety and accessibility improvements.”
Minister for State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and
Planning Cameron Dick said the Palaszczuk Government recognised the
benefits of increasing access for Type 1 road train vehicles east of
Biloela to industry and the state's economy.
“Replacement of the five timber bridges is a significant step towards
improved access for these larger freight efficient vehicles,” Mr Dick
said.
“With significant agricultural production and
Queensland’s largest
multi-commodity port at Gladstone, the reinvestment of $14 million in
project savings will see further works towards building a highway
suitable for larger freight vehicles to access national and
international markets.”
Mr Bailey said the Member for Gladstone Glenn Butcher had made ongoing
representations on behalf of the community about the importance of the
bridge replacement project to the agricultural,
mining, freight and tourism industries.
“Gladstone and the broader Central Queensland area were major
beneficiaries of the mining expansion over the past decade, yet there is
so much more the region has to offer,” Mr Bailey said.
Mr Butcher said the project had helped boost economic growth of the
broader region.
He said Golding’s achievements in completing the project demonstrated
the knowledge, skill and capability of a local company to deliver
large-scale infrastructure for the community.
“Replacing these five timber bridges has resulted in a wider Dawson
Highway, increasing safety for all road users,” Mr Butcher said.
“The weight limits on these timber bridges were a major inhibitor to the
region’s freight operations, with some vehicles travelling hundreds of
additional kilometres via Rockhampton.
“The new concrete structures are part of the continuing improvement of
the Dawson Highway to open up new transport opportunities for the
region.”
Mr Bailey also thanked motorists and local residents for their patience
during the Dawson Highway construction over the past 12 months.
An average of 38 direct jobs were supported over the life of the
project.
--ENDS--
Source: Queensland Government - www.statements.qld.gov.au
Contact: Media contact: Dominic Geiger, 0447355565
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