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Changed pedestrian/cyclist arrangements and temporary boat ramp closure
A temporary pedestrian and cyclist facility is being installed during night works on 15 and 16 May 2012 as part of the replacement of the northbound section of the AJ Wyllie Bridge on Gympie Road at Petrie.
The temporary pedestrian and cycle bridge is expected to be open for use from 18 May 2012, providing safe access across the North Pine River during the demolition of the existing northbound bridge and construction of the new bridge.
Users can access it from the northern side of the bridge via existing traffic signals at the Wyllie Park entrance and from the southern side of the bridge via temporary pedestrian signals near Leis Parade. The temporary facility is mounted onto the downstream side of the southbound bridge.
Temporary pathways have been installed from the pedestrian signals to the facility across the southbound bridge.
For the safety of waterway users, the Leis Park boat ramp will be temporarily closed from 21 May for the duration of demolition and construction. It is anticipated the boat ramp will reopen in late 2012. Alternative boat ramps open for use include Deepwater Bend, Dohles Rocks and Bob Bell Park.
Every effort will be made to minimise impacts during this time and there will be traffic control on site to direct pedestrians and cyclists. Please follow the directions of traffic controllers and signage to safely access the temporary pedestrian and cyclist facility.
Changed traffic conditions for night works
Construction works are continuing for the replacement of the northbound AJ Wyllie Bridge.
Current works include construction of a temporary pedestrian and cyclist facility, which will be used during the demolition and construction phases to maintain access across the North Pine River.
Contractors will be working additional hours on the next two weekends. Works will be occurring on the bridge on Sunday 6 May 2012, Monday 7 May, and Sunday 13 May between 8 am and 5 pm. There is not expected to be any excessive noise on these dates.
To avoid disruption to daytime traffic, there will be changes to evening traffic arrangements on the southbound bridge, weather permitting, during the next two weeks for the installation of the temporary pedestrian and cyclist facility.
Single lane closure
• Tuesday 8 May 2012, 8 pm to 4.30 am
• Wednesday 9 May 2012, 8 pm to 4.30 am
Full bridge closure
• Tuesday 15 May 2012, 8.30 pm to 4.30 am
• Wednesday 16 May 2012, 8.30 pm to 4.30 am
During the full bridge closure, motorists will be diverted around the AJ Wyllie Bridge via Dayboro Road, Youngs Crossing Road, Francis Road and Samsonvale Road. If there is any unexpected closure on this diversion route the bridge will remain open and works will not proceed on these dates.
Works will include installing the main steel support frames for the temporary facility, which will be mounted onto the downstream side of the southbound bridge. This requires the closure of the southbound bridge to enable two large cranes to operate from the bridge and safely manoeuvre the large steel frames.
Every effort will be made to minimise noise and traffic impacts during this time and there will be stop-go traffic control on site.
Further information will be provided in coming weeks about how the community can access and use the new pedestrian and cyclist facility.
Construction of temporary working bridge – April 2012
Construction has started on a temporary working bridge as part of the replacement of the northbound section of the AJ Wyllie Bridge on Gympie Road at Petrie.
The temporary working bridge is currently under construction on the upstream side of the northbound bridge.
Contractors will use this temporary bridge as a working platform when demolishing the existing northbound bridge structure and reconstructing the new two-lane bridge on the same alignment.
This temporary working bridge is part of the construction site exclusion zone, where members of the public are not permitted for safety reasons. It will be removed following completion of the new northbound bridge replacement.
Work is underway on construction of the temporary pedestrian and cyclist facility
The temporary pedestrian and cyclist facility will provide safe access for pedestrians and cyclists during the demolition and reconstruction works.
The installation of this facility is expected to occur during nightworks in mid-May 2012, weather permitting, and the community will be provided with more information on these night works in coming weeks.
AJ Wyllie Bridge northbound bridge replacement - update
The tender to replace the northbound AJ Wyllie Bridge has been awarded to McIlwain Civil Engineering Pty Ltd.
McIlwain Civil Engineering will be setting up in Leis Park at the Lawnton end of the bridge in mid-February.
The construction contract includes construction of the temporary pedestrian/cyclist facility, demolition of the existing northbound bridge, and construction of the new northbound bridge.
The construction site in Leis Park will include exclusion zones where members of the public will not be permitted for safety reasons.
The works will require the closure of the North Pine River in the immediate vicinity of the bridge.
The closure of the waterway will be effective from Monday 13 February 2012.
The exclusion zone will extend 30 metres upstream from the centre line of the existing northbound bridge to 30 metres downstream from the centre line of the southbound bridge.
The closure will be for a period of about 12 months, while construction is occurring.
The closure is necessary for the safety of recreational users of the waterway and also workers on the bridge replacement project.
Boat ramps near the bridge will remain open but recreational users of the waterway will no longer be able to travel under the bridge.
Recreational anglers who have been fishing off the existing northbound bridge should also note that fishing off the bridge will no longer be permitted once construction begins. Again this is for the safety of the public and the construction workers.
The contractors themselves will be working off a falsework bridge on the upstream side of the northbound bridge.
It is expected that the new bridge will be open to two lanes of traffic in late 2012, weather permitting.
For more information on the northbound bridge replacement project, subscribe to free SMS updates at www.northpinebridgesms.com.au, email reconstruct_northcoast@tmr.qld.gov.au, or phone 1800 459 366.
Temporary pedestrian/cyclist facility
The design has been finalised for a temporary pedestrian and cyclist facility that will be used during the demolition of the existing northbound bridge and the construction of the new one.
The facility will be mounted onto the eastern (downstream) side of the southbound bridge. It will be a steel framework structure and will be the same width as the existing facility on the northbound bridge.
The temporary facility will be accessed by new paths to be constructed on the eastern side of Gympie Road. Pedestrians will be able to safely cross Gympie Road to access those paths at the existing pedestrian signals at the entrance to Wyllie Park and the Amcor Petrie Mill north of the bridge, and at new pedestrian signals to be installed near the Leis Parade junction south of the bridge.
The safety of pedestrians and cyclists is an important consideration in the reconstruction of the northbound AJ Wyllie Bridge.
Counts have indicated there are about 73 pedestrians and 58 cyclists using the existing facility every day. While these are significant numbers, the usage is well spread through the day, with a maximum of nine counted in any single 15 minute period.
We ask motorists using this section of Gympie Road to continue the patience and consideration they have previously shown as we deal with the outcomes of an unprecedented natural disaster.
The location of the temporary pedestrian and cyclist facility on the downstream (eastern) side of the bridge is the best option in terms of safety and environmental factors.
Options to construct a temporary facility as a new crossing upstream of the bridge on the western side were considered but there a number of reasons why this is not viable:
- There will be a construction site set up in Leis Park moving heavy machinery and materials across the existing path to the new bridge, and it is not safe to have pedestrians near an active construction site.
- An upstream location would require pedestrians and cyclists to be diverted around this site, adding to their route, and it would also restrict access to the site, increasing construction time.
- There are major services such as electricity and communications crossing the river upstream of the bridge, and construction of a temporary bridge on this side would increase the footprint of the construction site which also increases the environmental impact.
The temporary pedestrian and cyclist facility is expected to be installed early next year, ahead of demolition of the northbound bridge.
Until the temporary pedestrian and cyclist facility is installed, pedestrians and cyclists can continue to use the northbound bridge.
The new northbound bridge will include permanent pedestrian and cyclist access.
Once the new bridge is finished, the temporary facility on the southbound bridge will be removed.
Fact sheet
Temporary pedestrian and cyclist arrangements (PDF, 1.59 MB)
Project update 2: December 2011 (PDF, 0.96 MB)
Project update 1: July 2011 (PDF, 1.1 MB)
