Community & Business
20 September, 2024
Bridge back to two lanes today
The Barron River bridge has returned to two lanes today, with a 42.5 tonne load limit, after testing confirmed it is safe.
Following detailed investigations by the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR), the bridge was re-opened at noon. However, the one-lane system will be reintroduced in November during a three-week testing and monitoring program.
TMR shut the bridge earlier this year after inspections in May found previously unidentified issues with the Macalloy bars, which were installed in 1963.
The bars were retrofitted for extra strength and reopened to traffic, but only as a single-lane operation to ensure safety for the crew and road users while further investigations and works were carried out.
It will return to one lane from 4 November to 29 November, between 7am and 5pm, when crews begin scheduled monitoring.
Planning for the preferred long-term solution to the bridge will be completed in December 2024.
