Works on the Lion Creek Bridge are now complete, the first of 18 old timber bridge replacements to improve flood resiliency and accessibility in Queensland as part of the $1.98 billion Rockhampton Ring Road project.
The original crossing of the Lion Creek bridge was built in the late 1800s. The completion of the new bridge coincided with the re-opening of Canoona Road, as work on the West Rockhampton local road connections to the Ring Road are finalised.
The Rockhampton Ring Road project will deliver 17.4 kilometres of new roadway including a 14.7 kilometre western link of the Bruce Highway, extending from the Capricorn Highway (at Nelson Street) in the south through to the intersection of the Bruce Highway and Rockhampton–Yeppoon Road in the north.
The project will transform the way commuters, freight and travellers access Rockhampton, with improved flood resilience, travel times and road safety.
The ring road will improve connectivity to key destinations including the Rockhampton Airport, the Rockhampton Hospital, and defence, education and leisure precincts in Wandal and Rockhampton City, and industrial precincts in North Rockhampton.
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The project will also deliver an additional eight road overpasses and seven water crossings on top of the 18 bridge replacements.
Queensland Minister for Transport and Main Roads Brent Mickelberg said the milestone would help to improve accessibility for all motorists travelling through the region.
“Central Queenslanders are too often at the mercy of natural disasters and significant weather events, and the opening Lion’s Creek Bridge is a major step forward in providing the region with the flood resilience it needs to stay connected to the rest of the state,” he said.
“With traffic on the Bruce Highway in central Queensland reaching up to 36,200 vehicles per day in urban centres – it’s vital we deliver a safer and more reliable highway connection for motorists.”
The $1.98 billion Rockhampton Ring Road project is funded by both governments, with the Federal Government providing $1.4 billion and the Queensland Government providing $580 million.
For more information on the project, click here.
