Mackay Regional Council has completed works to restore or replace six aged timber bridges in rural areas.
The bridges replaced were Palm Tree Creek Bridge (Pinnacle), Ash's Bridge (Devereux Creek), Barren Creek Bridge (Calen), Greens Bridge (Mt Charlton), Old Hampton Road Bridge (Marian) and One Mile Creek Road Bridge (Mount Pelion).
All the bridges have been restored to a 44-tonne (T44) loading capacity.
The final bridge in the project to be replaced was Barren Creek Bridge, which opened to the public on February 27.
The Barren Creek Bridge has new concrete approach slabs and an Australian hardwood timber superstructure with galvanised steel fixings.
A custom glue laminated deck was also custom made and imported.
The custom deck is stronger, lighter and harder wearing than other alternatives, enabling re-use of the existing timber foundations, which saved time and cost.
Mayor Greg Williamson said the Barren Creek Bridge was 90 years old.
“The project team actually found original construction drawings for it and Greens Bridge from 1935,” Mayor Williamson said.
“With these six bridges requiring significant maintenance, council initiated a project to renew them in 2024 and brought in specialist contractor, Timber Restoration Services (TRS) to undertake the works,” he said.
“Unfortunately, we hit a snag in late November (2024) when one of the custom-built decks was held in Customs, causing a delay.
“Council and TRS investigated other options to minimise further delays, and a new deck was constructed and shipped at no additional expense to council, so that was a great outcome.”
Council engaged closely with the rural communities impacted while the bridge works were under way.
Mayor Greg Williamson said local residents had been very understanding and great to work with.
“We realise that road closures are inconvenient, and a lot of residents were impacted by lengthy detours, but people were tremendous, and we really appreciate their patience.”
TRS General Manager Patrick Bigg said it had been a pleasure working with council and alongside a dedicated team of local subcontractors over the past 12 months, restoring and rehabilitating these six timber bridges.
“Each bridge presented a unique set of challenges which were successfully navigated using longevity-focused design solutions that extend the life of each asset,” Mr Bigg said.
“Thanks also to the community for your assistance, continued patience and support throughout the project,” he said.
Barren Creek Bridge before renewal
Barren Creek Bridge completed
Palm Tree Creek Bridge before renewal
Palm Tree Creek Bridge completed
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