General News
19 June, 2025
Funds for bridge expected in budget
FUNDS to replace the ageing Barron River bridge at Kuranda will be announced in the State Budget next week.
Member for Cook David Kempton told The Express the State’s contribution towards the construction of a new bridge was expected to be announced in the budget to be handed down on 24 June.
“The summary business case has already been released, and the design and planning process has commenced,” he said.
The highly anticipated business case was released by the State Government in May and estimates the new structure will cost $490 million.
The Federal Government has already committed $245 million towards the project in its 2025 Budget.
The business case also estimates it will take a minimum of four years to complete the project.
The existing bridge will remain in service with routine maintenance and testing and will only be removed once the new bridge is complete.
The Barron River Bridge was constructed in 1963 and since 2020, has been regularly closed, or open for one lane only, after fatigue cracks in certain steel components of the bridge were identified.
Minister for Transport Brent Mickelberg has confirmed that engagement with key stakeholders and local government was already underway, with industry briefings on the project to be held in the next few months.
The need to improve the region’s transport network was a major issue during last year’s State election, with Mr Kempton promising that a local roads advisory group would be established to ensure that the Department of Transport and Main Roads upgraded sections of roads and bridges in a manner which made sense.
Transport operators and producers met with Mr Kempton and the then LNP Shadow Minister for Transport Steve Minnikin in July last year where Mr Kempton made the commitment.
He said a transport advisory group would be formed comprising of council representatives, transport operators, industry groups, growers, businesses and relevant government agencies.
“Too many decisions get made in the south-east….and there’s not enough input from the people who are impacted by those decisions and use those transport routes,” he said at the time.
Last week, Mr Kempton told The Express he would be calling for expressions of interest for participation in the regional roads advisory group in the next few weeks.
