Barron River Bridge welding works competition could lead to two lanes

Engineers have reportedly presented a TMR director with a number of options for traffic flow on the Barron River Bridge following urgent repairs which caused 15-minute delays.

AN announcement on how traffic flow will change following urgent repairs on the Barron River Bridge is expected within “a week or so” with the possibility of it returning to a two-lane operation.

In February 2020 the Department of Transport and Main Roads imposed a load limit of 50.5 tonnes and since November last year commuters have been reduced to a crawl by traffic lights regulating vehicle movements.

Then just a week after TMR announced it would be conducting essential welding repairs over four weeks from August 16, TMR director-general Neil Scales pushed that completion date back to “at least October” at an estimates hearing.

Barron River MP Craig Crawford said TMR regional director Sanjay Ram presented at a forum on Monday to provide updates on road projects in the region.

The Barron River bridge on the Kennedy Highway near Kuranda could reopen to two lanes as TMR consider information following repairs and an investigation to be completed in October. Picture: Stewart McLean

“So the temporary works underneath are about to be complete.

“(Mr Ram has) received all the advice from engineers around what that means for weight limits, the flow of traffic, everything like that.

“So they’re working on what that could like, they’ve got some options on the table to look at, like maybe getting two-way traffic back and getting us as close as possible to what traffic was like before.

“We should see some announcement from him in the next week or two.”

A TMR spokesman said works were on track to be completed in October.

“We are considering the findings of these investigations and will provide further advice as soon as possible about a potential return to two-way operation.

“We have invited tenders for a $2.1m planning project to replace or improve the bridge.

“Planning is expected to be complete in late 2022.”

An aerial view of construction roadworks of the northern end of the Smithfield bypass which is scheduled to open late November. Picture: Brendan Radke

Mr Crawford said TMR had also set a “hard opening date” of the Smithfield Bypass which he expected was November 28, but was not confirmed by the department.

“The Smithfield Bypass project is on schedule for completion in late November, weather permitting,” the spokesman said.

“Crews will complete the southern extension at the intersection of Captain Cook Highway and Cairns Western Arterial Road over the coming weeks. They will also be completing asphalt and tie-in works, and the shared pathway.”

Originally published as Barron River Bridge welding works competition could lead to two lanes