Bridges in Monkland and Traveston set for an upgrade

Travel could soon be easier and safer at two Gympie region areas with $2m being spent to upgrade wooden bridges into two-lane concrete structures.

Inglewood Rd Bridge in Monkland, Gympie is set to get an upgrade. Picture: Google

Two of Gympie’s timber, one lane bridges will get massive upgrades with reinforced concrete, an extra lane, and weight capacity of up to 42 tonnes.

The upgrades are part of the Australian Government’s Bridges Renewal Program which commits more than $2m to Gympie Regional Council for bridge upgrades.

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Inglewood Rd Bridge in Monkland, Gympie is set to get an upgrade. Picture: Google

In Monkland, the rail bridge on Inglewood Rd will be transformed from the humble wooden structure to a two-lane reinforced concrete one.

Previously only able to hold four tonnes, the new structure will have the capacity of holding 42 tonnes.

The program has committed just under $1.3m of the total $1.6m in upgrade costs.

Howe Rd Bridge crossing over Six Mile Creek in Traveston, Gympie is set to get an upgrade. Picture: Google

On Howe Rd in Traveston, a one-lane timber bridge will be upgrade to a two-lane single span reinforced concrete structure.

The bridge, which crosses over Six Mile Creek will have a load limit of 42.5 tonnes, more than doubling its current capacity of 18 tonnes.

The program has committed $1m into the total cost of $1.25m.

Gympie’s two bridge upgrades are a part of a commitment of more than $38m from the Australian Government that will support 31 bridge upgrades or replacements around Australia.

The latest funding means to support projects that improve the ease of access and safety of road networks in regional areas, and enhance the productivity of heavy vehicle operations, such as trucks, a statement from the regional development and local government minister, Kristy McBain said.

Gympie Regional Council welcomes the news of the bridges, director of infrastructure services Mr Graham O’Byrne said.

“We are in the very early stages of scoping the works and related timeframes, however we will keep the community updated once these details are available,” he said.