Community & Business
17 August, 2021
Barron River Bridge delays to worsen
DELAYS over the Barron River bridge in Kuranda are set to worsen as the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) has announced they will be forced to stop traffic in both directions to continue with welding repairs.
DELAYS over the Barron River bridge in Kuranda are set to worsen as the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) has announced they will be forced to stop traffic in both directions to continue with welding repairs.
The announcement comes after months of the bridge being restricted to a single lane as essential welding repairs are carried out.
Starting from August 16 traffic will be forced to a halt in both directions for up to 15 minutes as welding repairs took place, lasting for up to four weeks.
TMR North Queensland Regional Director Sanjay Ram said that TMR would prefer not to halt traffic, but it must be done.
“We need to weld without vibrations, so traffic will be stopped occasionally between 9am and 3pm over this four-week period,” he said.
“Because traffic vibration adversely impacts repair quality, stopping traffic intermittently in both directions for up to 15 minutes, if required.
“We would prefer if we did not have to stop traffic over the bridge for short periods of time, but that is not an option based on the work we need to complete.”
In the meantime, TMR is continuing their $2.1 million planning study looking to identity a long-term solution for the Barron River bridge. It is undecided whether a new bridge should be constructed or the current one rehabilitated.
