Questions over Barron River bridge at Kuranda after flood

Authorities insist the contentious bridge over the Barron River at Kuranda is safe, despite withstanding the ravages of recent flooding, but it has slashed the weight limit from 50.5 tonnes to 42.5 tonnes.

The contentious bridge over the Barron River at Kuranda is under renewed scrutiny following unprecedented flooding, with water spilling over the bridge.

The Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) has cut the load limit from 50 tonnes to 42.5 tonnes in the wake of the flood.

“TMR has carried out an initial assessment of the Barron River bridge and determined the bridge is safe,” a TMR spokesman said.

“As a precaution, the load limit on the bridge has been reduced to 42.5 tonnes.”

He said permanent monitoring equipment on the bridge provided real time information about the condition of the bridge.

The Barron River water level reached the bridge built over the Kennedy Highway at Kuranda on December 18, 2023. Picture: Craig Crawford

“Further detailed inspections will be carried out as soon as possible,” he said.

Barron River MP Craig Crawford said the bridge, which opened in 1963, had withstood severe weather events in previous years.

“We know from TMR the strongest part of the bridge is the concrete pillars, it’s the top deck which is the steel structure which has had the concerns and is the reason for the inspections and studies to replace,” Mr Crawford said.

“I don’t know if the concrete pillars have been impacted by the rain event – I would expect TMR would be doing a thorough assessment of the bridge to check both the concrete pillars as well as the top deck to see if any of it has been affected,” he said.

The Kuranda River bridge on the Kennedy Highway has undergone extensive investigations. Picture: Brendan Radke

“But it’s an old bridge and has seen significant weather before so I don’t have immediate concerns for it.”

The bridge, described by the FNQ Regional Organisation of Councils as a “strangle point” stifling the region’s growth, has been the source of much frustration in recent years as it has been frequently reduced to one lane.

In September this year $8.98m in funding was allocated to work out what a long-term solution could look like, following a $2.1m investigation in 2021 into solutions for either replacing or rehabilitating the bridge.

An artist's impression of the temporary bridge solution for the crossing of the Barron River. Picture: TMR

TMR announced community consultation – which closed on December 8 – on two proposed options to accommodate future capacity needs, enhance safety for pedestrians, bike riders and mobility device users, facilitate heavy vehicle access, and minimise environmental impacts.

Option one is a new bridge and option two is a major upgrade to the existing bridge.

An artist's impression of the new bridge solution for the crossing of Barron River at Kuranda. Picture: TMR

The addition of a cycling and pedestrian pathway that can be seen in artist’s impressions released by TMR was a feature Mr Crawford said was lacking in the existing crossing.

“That has been a significant issue with the current bridge, trying to cross the bridge on foot or bike with trucks roaring by is terrifying,” he said.

“I’ve been working with Main Roads on this for a long time. My goal is to make sure there is always an operational bridge spanning that river.”

Live testing of the Intelligent Transport System technology installed on the Kuranda Range has now begun. Picture: TMR

The outcome of community consultation will be released early next year with a planning study expected to be completed in late 2024.

The 257m bridge was opened in 1963.

TMR investigations in 2015 found fatigue cracks in several steel elements of the bridge and the 50.5t limit was imposed in February 2019, and in November 2020, TMR imposed changed traffic conditions to manage the risk of fatigue and brittle fracture.

Residents have criticised the new $30m Intelligent Transport System on the Kuranda Range, saying the camera stations were poorly engineered and collapsed. Picture: Supplied

The TMR said short term repairs had been completed and cameras and sensors were installed to measure the performance of the bridge and the control measures.

The planning study is expected to be completed in late 2024.

Originally published as Questions over Barron River bridge at Kuranda after flood