Tenterfield Shire Council is putting the community on notice that 15 of the shire’s timber bridges are rapidly approaching the dangerous state and steps will have to be taken.
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In many cases this will mean load limits and/or alternate routes, and council officers will be liaising with those affected to work out options.
Impending problems with council’s aging timber bridge infrastructure have been on the radar for some time, with the majority of structures being in excess of 50 years old. Following the failure of the bridge at Beaury Creek, Urbenville last year, council engaged a consultant to undertake non-destructive testing of 17 of the shire’s timber bridges, predominantly on the busier category A and B roads.
While council has completed bridge inspections in the past, there has been very limited Level 3 structural inspections to confirm the extent of service load which can be accommodated long-term without unexpected failure occurring as happened with the Beaury Creek Bridge.
Previous councils had recognised the long-term solution for many of these timber bridges was replacement with concrete structures, but funding for bridge renewal work hasn’t been allowed for.
“However, it is time to move forward,” Mayor Peter Petty said.
“We cannot change what has happened in the past but now need to address this very important and potentially problematic issue for our community.
“While council appreciates that some of the immediate solutions may cause inconvenience to some areas of our rural community, residents must be aware that council’s first consideration is for the safety of road users and that abiding by the restrictions will ensure that bridges remain intact for longer, thereby allowing for other structures requiring more urgent attention to be funded.”
At the May Ordinary Council Meeting councillors considered a report which will form part of a long-term strategy aimed at seeing some bridges provide limited service over the next 20 years. This will allow council to progressively replace those structures of greatest need.
With load limits needing to be placed on 15 bridges, council staff will spend the next two months engaging with stakeholders to determine alternative routes and to update information channels. A final report providing details of detours and load limits will also be presented to council prior to any load limits being imposed.
Mayor Petty and council’s chief executive Terry Dodds continue to lobby both state and federals members for the funding to assist with bridge replacement.