THE completion of the Steve Irwin Way upgrade has been delayed by about one month following severe weather that smashed the hinterland.
Transport and Main Roads said it was too early to tell the cost of the repairs, which at the peak of the recovery involved 150 workers undertaking emergency work across the region.
“As soon as it was safe to do so, we had road crews assessing road damage and making urgent repairs to restore access for communities,” a TMR spokesperson told GC&M News.
“Damage assessments will continue over coming months and a significant program of reconstruction works will be required. A budget for road repairs will be allocated once the full extent of damage is known.”
Steve Irwin Way was forced to close due to flooding and fallen trees following the devastating storm that tore through Landsborough and Beerwah in the early hours of March 3.
But the inundation of water has caused a setback in the upgrade that was due for completion by the end of 2021.
“The project did not sustain damage due to the most recent rainfall, however the area is saturated from prolonged rainfall, impacting crews’ ability to work,” the spokesperson said.
“Compaction work required cannot be undertaken until the project area dries out. We are hopeful time can be made up once construction restarts, however, this will depend on weather and construction conditions.”
Other roads including Kilcoy-Beerwah Road were closed for several days resulting in traffic being diverted through Commissioner’s Flat Road. Division 5 Councillor Winston Johnston said he had visited almost every rural road in his division and said the damage was significant in some areas and would take months to regravel or grade. “Due to the great work of council road gangs, roads where there are landslips have now been either reopened or closed to traffic where there is an alternate access road,” he said.
“Local farmers and plant operators as well as council’s works teams have been outstanding in working long days and weekends to repair or make safe the worst damaged areas.
“Thank you also to the huge number of residents who have assisted friends, neighbours and our community throughout and following this weather emergency.”
Main image: Cambroon Bridge, Cambroon
