John Muntz Bridge to stay closed as engineers work out how to stop it washing away again

A KEY road connecting homes and businesses on the northern suburbs remains closed, more than two months after Cyclone Debbie washed it away.

Altus Traffic controller Jamie McSkimming directing traffic at the John Muntz Bridge over the Coomera river at Oxenford. Picture: Mike Batterham

A KEY road connecting homes and businesses on the northern suburbs remains closed, more than two months after Cyclone Debbie washed it away.

Up to 15,000 motorists used the John Muntz Causeway bridge every day until it collapsed into the Coomera River.

The $15 million bridge between Oxenford and Mount Tamborine had been designed to be floodproof.

Coomera MP Mark Boothman last month lodged a petition from 1608 people calling for the bridge to be fixed within six weeks “or as a matter of urgency”.

Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey today said it would be completed by “mid-2017”.

He said works under way included the repair and reinforcement of the damaged road and providing additional protection for both the causeway and adjacent riverbanks within the road reserve.

“We’re working extremely hard to open the road as quickly as possible when safe to do so, and we’re still on track for works to be completed by mid-2017, weather permitting,” Mr Bailey said.

“My department has determined that the Coomera River embankment failure contributed to the severing of the connection between Tamborine-Oxenford Road and John Muntz Causeway.

“They will undertake independent investigations and work with key stakeholders including local community and environmental groups, as well as relevant Government agencies, to consider measures to help prevent a similar occurrence in the future.

“All that can be done, is being done as quickly as possible to get this important connection road open for all residents and motorists.”

Mr Bailey said construction contractor Golding has built temporary rock platforms on both sides of the causeway to allow heavy earthmoving equipment to reach under the bridge to remove large amounts of debris.

“Work to repair the gas line adjacent to the road is ongoing and City of Gold Coast started work to repair their water main this week, while road reconstruction work is under way,” he said.

“I would like to thank the community for their patience while my department continues to work expeditiously to restore our severely damaged road network.”

To keep up to date with the latest information about the work please subscribe to email/SMS alerts by emailing your details to [e-mail].