Mareeba businesses demand clarity on the future of Barron River Bridge after nine months of restrictions

Mareeba transport businesses are fed up with the lack of clarity about the future of the Barron River bridge and now face even more delays at the Kuranda river crossing.

MAREEBA transport businesses are fed up with the lack of clarity about the future of the Barron River bridge and now face even more delays at the Kuranda river crossing.

Transport and Main Roads has announced delays of up to 15 minutes at the bridge over the next four weeks.

Daily hold-ups have become the norm for transport companies but they are becoming tired of waiting for a permanent solution from the state government.

David Parsons from Mareeba Transport said the current delays were manageable to a point.

“I believe the wait times are only five or 10 minutes each way but it’s the accumulative effect at the end of the day,” he said.

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“There are whispers that bridge will be condemned but I give the benefit of the doubt to the authorities and I know they are assessing the bridge and will make the right decision,” Mr Parsons said.

He is optimistic but said he would appreciate a decision on whether the bridge will be replaced or rehabilitated.

“What people really want is the authorities to come forward and say ‘we are confident that the bridge will reopen’,” Mr Parsons said.

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Harris Transport owner Allan Harris has been forced to change the hours his drivers work.

“We just have to work different hours, go down late at night or early morning,” he said.

Adapting his business has been one thing but Mr Harris believes the government should have made a decision by now.

“If we were overseas the tunnel would already be built,” he said.

Welding will begin under the Barron River bridge on the Kennedy Highway near Kuranda. Picture: Stewart McLean

Cairns Far North Environment Centre director Lucy Graham said further wait times might help ignite a much-needed conversation.

“The Kuranda Range is a decades-long challenge for our region and the issues with the bridge are serious, and need to be addressed, but now we are seeing it become a catalyst to restart a decades-long conversation,” she said.

If the bridge is to be removed rather than rehabilitated currently no suitable solution has been put forward, Ms Graham said.

Barron River bridge on the Kennedy Highway near Kuranda down to one lane. Picture: Stewart McLean

“People are getting excited about the Bridle Track, but we have no idea about the impacts associated with it, and we need to fully understand the economic costs and environmental impacts before we forge ahead.”

From August 16, welding beneath the bridge will start and delay times could increase up to 15 minutes intermittently from 9am and 3pm.

Originally published as Mareeba businesses demand clarity on the future of Barron River Bridge after nine months of restrictions