UPDATE: Pengelly's not being widened

Truck driver says Pengelly's Bridge is too narrow for passing traffic

Pengelly's Bridge is a serious accident waiting to happen, says truck driver Stuart Horsfall. Picture: Donna Jones

UPDATE:

ROUTINE maintenance works to improve visibility is the only planned work for Pengelly's Bridge the Department of Transport and Main Roads confirmed today despite rumours the bridge was being widened.

While the Monkland bridge has been identified for strategic project planning which "will consider potential corridors and demand for a new bridge," there is no current funding allocated for the design or construction of a new bridge, a department spokesman said. 

The confirmation comes on the back of a near-miss on the bridge this week, when two trucks chipped each other, damaging at least one vehicle's side mirror, while trying to pass on Wednesday morning.

Truck driver Stuart Horsfall said it's only a matter of time before a more serious accident occurs due to the narrow width of the bridge.

Pengelly's Bridge was originally built in the early 1930s as a timber bridge, was upgraded in the 1960s and had a walkway added around 1983.

The department said there have been no recorded crashes on the bridge in the last five years.

Additional clearing is being undertaken on land adjacent to the bridge that is unrelated to Transport and Main Roads.

EARLIER:

GYMPIE truck driver Stuart Horsfall believes it's only a matter of time before someone gets hurt on Pengelly's Bridge, which he says is too narrow for the traffic it carries.

The driver was travelling south on the bridge early this morning when his work truck and another passing truck clipped each other, smashing Mr Horsfall's side mirror.

"Something definitely should be done before someone actually does get hurt," he told The Gympie Times.

TOO NARROW: Gympie truck driver Stuart Horsfall had his mirror smashed on Pengelly's Bridge when he was passing another truck. Picture: Contributed

As a frequent user of the Brisbane Rd bridge, which crosses Deep Creek, he believes it is especially dangerous for drivers who are not familiar with how narrow the bridge is.

"If you're not a local resident it is definitely very dangerous considering a lot of tourists use this road to get to the beautiful places we have like Rainbow Beach and Fraser Island."

"I have had some very close calls with other trucks and caravans."

The Department of Main Roads has been contacted for comment on any future plans for the bridge.

Pengelly's Bridge is also prone to flooding, cutting Monkland from Gympie in times of flood.

IF ITS FLOODED FORGET IT. Gympie Pengellys Bridge.Photo Tanya Easterby / The Gympie Times. Picture: Tanya Easterby