Motorists in Munruben will be better able to escape rising floodwaters with the construction of a new eight-metre-high bridge.
Logan City council said more than 160mm of rain in recent weeks had impacted the construction of the Norris Creek Bridge, but the project was progressing and meeting important milestones.
Infrastructure chair councillor Teresa Lane said an inventive “bulk settlement” construction technique had minimised cost and disruption to locals.
“Residents know this stretch of road is often impassable after heavy rain and our roads design team had to come up with some innovative ideas to allow the flood waters to flow while keeping roads open,” Cr Lane said.
“Using the same ‘bulk settlement’ technique that contractors used on the Brisbane Airport’s second runway, council was able to use local resources with a much lower transport cost.
“This is a big saving for the project and a win for the budget.”
The technique has seen around 114,000 cubic metres of soil – enough to fill 46 Olympic swimming pools – used to raise the bridge eight-metres high and establish a stable foundation by compressing the ground below.
The soil came from the Covella subdivision at Greenbank, which council said, “delivered some cost benefits”.
The bridge is part of a 3.8km upgrade of Chambers Flat Rd, from the Mount Lindesay Hwy to just north of Kings Way.
The works will also:
- widen the road to 3.5m each way, with 3m sealed shoulders.
- install turning lanes at the Kings Way and Greenvale Rd intersections.
- improve sight distances at bends and crests.
“There are multiple benefits from an important upgrade like this including safer driveway access with the new hard surface shoulders, shorter journey times and all-weather access through a high flooding area,” Cr Lane said.
