Outrage over Barron River bridge lane closure

Commuters of a busy Far North bridge have reacted with outrage over plans to cut the busy overpass to a single lane. HAVE YOUR SAY

Commuters of the Barron River bridge have reacted with anger and disbelief about plans to cut the busy overpass from Mareeba to Cairns to a single lane.

The controversial Kennedy Highway bridge will be reduced to one lane from January 31 for “monitoring and testing”, sparking a backlash from Cairns Post readers who feel, the rainforest city is being ignored by Brisbane politicians in favour of the South East corner.

Motorists have already endured 12 months of a “one lane disaster” at the Kuranda-based bridge before it reopened in October.

The Kennedy Highway bridge over the Barron River, near the town of Kuranda. The bridge will again be limited to a single lane of traffic. Picture: Brendan Radke

“Wouldn’t be an issue if it was SE QLD based, oh hang on, thats because Cairns is only important when its election time,” said Andrea Attree.

Terri Greig wrote “Imagine if this were the Story Bridge in Brisbane”, while Liz Rogato said “we’re going backwards instead of forward. What a joke.”

It comes as community leaders, including Mareeba Chamber of Commerce president Joe Monroe, called the plan dissapointing.

State Member for Barron River Craig Crawford said Transport and Main Roads (TMR) had started “a planning study to investigate long-term solutions for the Barron River bridge”.

The findings of a $1.6m into the best way to improve access between Cairns and the Tablelands would be released this month.

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“There is no option but to build a new bridge. How can the government let this vital route become a one lane disaster, “ Alison Grose wrote.

Road user Michael Mappas said the plan to reduce it to one lane “just proves how dangerous the bridge is.”

“It means the bridge can’t handle a certain weight otherwise it will collapse,” he said.

“Everyone who drives across it should be wearing a life jacket so it makes it easier for search and rescue to find your body.”

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Originally published as Outrage over Barron River bridge lane closure