Dickabram Bridge gets timber decking

The Gympie region’s Dickabram Bridge will be closed for most of the school holidays for maintenance work on its timber decking, adding 28km to regular commutes.

Dickabram Bridge is undergoing renovation and maintance of its timber decking and will be closed for some days over the next couple of weeks.

The oldest road-rail bridge in Queensland will be closed for a number of days between June and July as Transport and Main Roads carries out maintenance on the timber decking.

The Dickabram Bridge at Miva will be closed for four days between 7am and 3pm from Tuesday, June 27 to Friday, June 30.

The bridge will open shortly for the weekend and close again on the same hours (7am – 3pm) as works commence for another five days on Monday, July 3.

It is expected to be open for traffic on Saturday, July 8.

As the only bridge crossing in the area it will mean commuters and regular motorists driving on Miva Rd between Gunalda and Woolooga will have to factor in an extra 28km detour to take Old Gympie Rd, Bauple-Woolooga Rd and Munna Miva Rd towards Gootchie in the north.

Dickabram Bridge near Miva.

The heritage-listed Dickabram Bridge is the oldest surviving complete steel truss bridge in Queensland and crosses over the Mary River, connecting Miva Rd to Theebine in the east and Miva in the west.

“Due to the age and design of the bridge, night works are not possible due to safety concerns,” a statement from Transport and Main Roads said.

Dickabram Bridge was built in 1886 and is located on the Gympie to Kilkivan railway line.

Built 21.3m above the winter water level of the Mary River it played an important role in the development of the region during the 1900s transporting mineral resources to Kilkivan and farming goods, such as butter and milk, to and from Kingaroy, Murgon, Wondai and Nanango.

Dickabram Bridge near Miva.

While the bridge saw its last train cross in 2008, it still plays an important role in connecting Woolooga, Miva and Theebine to main arterial roads such as the Bruce Hwy.

The bridge is famous for the urban legend of a worker being entombed in its foundations.

TMR urged motorists and commuters to visit www.QLDTraffic.qld.gov.au for the latest roadworks updates and expected delays.