Burdekin River Bridge, rehabilitation program

The department is undertaking the rehabilitation and maintenance program for the Burdekin River Bridge to preserve the structural integrity of the bridge. The ongoing program will ensure a safe and durable crossing is maintained for the long-term use of vehicles, heavy transport operators, rail operations, bicycle riders and pedestrians.

The Burdekin River Bridge rehabilitation and maintenance project will ensure an efficient and safe road network is maintained for motorists, transport operators, local businesses, commercial industries and the agricultural industry. These on-going maintenance and rehabilitation works will also play an integral part in preserving the bridge for future use.

Benefits

Improves safety
Improves network efficiency
Better active transport
Improves ride quality

Key features

This important program of works will see a wide variety of repairs and safeguarding works carried out on the Burdekin River Bridge, including:

patch-painting on sections of the bridge
structural repairs on sections of the bridge
abrasive blasting of rusted areas
ongoing internal and external inspections of the bridge structure and approaches to prioritise maintenance works
frequent cleaning, repairs, and inspection of the pedestrian walkway.

Funding

The project is jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland governments. Investment ID 1620983

Total investment: ^$96.9 million

Australian Government: ^$64.7 million

Queensland Government: ^$32.2 million

Current status

Works to be completed over the coming year include:

frequent cleaning, repairs, and inspection of the pedestrian walkway
lower and upper chord spot painting
lower and upper chord repairs
lower gantry maintenance
ongoing sloping chord replacement works
upper lateral angle bracing replacement works
top gantry maintenance and rehabilitation.

Burdekin River Bridge, rehabilitation program location map

Burdekin Rive Bridge location map

Burdekin River Bridge facts

Construction of the Burdekin River Bridge was completed in 1957. The Burdekin River Bridge maintenance and rehabilitation program is the first major structural rehabilitation work undertaken since its construction.
During construction of the Burdekin River Bridge, 235 people were employed at any one time with more than 300,000 high strength bolts and 7,000 tonnes of steel being used.
The Burdekin River Bridge is only 46m shorter in length than the Sydney Harbour Bridge and comprises 10 main spans (each 250 feet) and 22 approach spans with a total length of approximately 3,620 feet (1,103m).
The Burdekin River Bridge is an important link in the national transportation network and is a strategic, high flood immunity link between north and south Queensland.
The alternate road route to Townsville via Collinsville-Belyando-Charters Towers is 400km longer with some sections of unsealed road.
Over 10,000 vehicles cross the Burdekin River Bridge each day.
On Tuesday 5 October 2010, the Burdekin River Bridge received an Engineering Heritage National Landmark award from Engineers Australia. This award recognises significant engineering heritage works that have been judged to be valuable to a group of people, or have contributed something of value to the nation, a region or to the practice of engineering.