FREIGHT, economic and social disruption should now be frustrations of the past with the opening of the Yeppen South Bridge on the outskirts of Rockhampton this week.
The bridge was built to minimise Rockhampton’s isolation during moderate and major floods in the region.
During the 2011 flood the Bruce Highway at the Yeppen floodplain was closed for 14 days, causing freight, economic and social disruptions.
Federal member for Capricornia Michelle Landry said the new bridge would stop these disruptions.
“This part of the Bruce Highway is essential in moving tourists, food, commodities and freight north or south between Brisbane and Cairns, so it is vital to keeping the economy going during river rises,” she said.
The Yeppen South bridge, when complete, will be the longest bridge on the Bruce Highway and second-longest bridge in Queensland at 2.8 kilometres.
The bridge was identified as a high priority in the Queensland Government’s Bruce Highway Action Plan in 2012 and cost a $170 million to construct.
Jointly funded, the Federal Government provided $136 million and Queensland the remaining $34 million.
Designed to provide a new elevated crossing of the Bruce Highway across Yeppen floodplain from the Burnett Highway intersection to the Yeppen roundabout, the project adjoins the Yeppen North project.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Warren Truss said the bridge would improve the current flood immunity level of the current section of one in 15 year floods.
“The bridge has been built above the one in 100-year flood level, making it higher than all recorded floodwaters for the region, including the 1918 Rockhampton flood where the Fitzroy peaked at more than 10 metres,” Mr Truss said.
The new high-level bridge will allow for the Bruce Highway south of Rockhampton to be duplicated to four lanes, providing traffic flow improvements.
Northbound traffic will use the new high-level lanes while southbound traffic will continue to use the existing lanes.
During previous floods, the low-lying highway was diverted to one lane in each direction causing major blockages and accidents.
Not only will the Yeppen South bridge allow for better freight operations and traffic flow, it will also provide better connectivity for surrounding communities including Gracemere and Mount Morgan.