Council seeking funding to replace timber bridges

Two bridges in the Toowoomba Region could soon be revamped if Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC) is successful in securing Australian Government funding.

As part of the Commonwealth Government Bridge Renewal Program (Round 4), TRC will submit applications for Tummaville Road Bridge and Hirstglen Road Bridge to receive funding.

Toowoomba Regional Council’s Infrastructure Committee Chair, Councillor Carol Taylor said the two timber bridges were currently high priorities for replacement/renewal, as identified through TRC’s annual bridge inspection and reporting program.

“The Bridge Renewal Program provides a 50 per cent grant for up to two projects per Council, up to a maximum of $700,000 government contribution per project, with Council having to match the contribution at a minimum,” she said.

“Council is very appreciative of this Commonwealth program funding and in recent years, we have been successful with a number of projects submitted under previous rounds of this funding program, including: Lemon Tree - Bostock Road bridge upgrade and Scrubby Road culvert replacement, Emu Creek Hall Road bridge replacement, Post Office Road and Mally Road culvert replacements.

“We’ve identified Tummaville Road Bridge and Hirstglen Road Bridge as priorities for Council and as such, both of these projects are already on our 10 year Capital Works Program.”

The Tummaville Road Bridge project will replace the old one-lane timber bridge with a two-lane concrete bridge with increased load capacity. The project is estimated to cost $2.3 million in total.

The Hirstglen Road Bridge project will replace a one-lane timber bridge with two-lane concrete structure with increased load capacity. The project is estimated to cost $840,000 in total.

At the Ordinary Meeting of Council on Tuesday 22 January, Council endorsed the decision to proceed with submitting applications for these two projects.

For more information visit www.tr.qld.gov.au or contact Council on 131 872.