Bremmer River Bridge in Australia to Close for 55 Hours for Strengthening Work

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On October 27, the Department of Transport and Main Roads of Queensland, Australia, announced that the westbound Bremmer River Bridge on the Warrego Highway will be closed for 55 consecutive hours from 10 p.m. on November 6 to 5 a.m. on November 9 for concrete pressure transition slab pouring. The work is part of an AUD 85 million bridge rehabilitation and strengthening project. During the closure, ordinary vehicles will use the eastbound bridge via the existing median crossover, while over-dimensional vehicles wider than 3.5 meters will need to detour via other roads.

The Bremmer River Bridge is located in the Karalee area of Queensland and is a key link on the Warrego Highway connecting Ipswich and Toowoomba. The westbound bridge opened in January 1958 and features a steel girder structure, carrying about 32,000 westbound vehicles per day. At the end of 2023, fatigue cracks were found in the bridge's steel structure, after which transport authorities imposed speed and load limits and carried out temporary welding repairs and structural inspections. Following further assessment in 2025, the authorities determined a project approach to retain the existing deck and strengthen and rehabilitate the main bridge structure.

During this weekend closure, over-dimensional vehicles wider than 3.5 meters will need to detour via the Cunningham Highway, the Ipswich–Rosewood Road and the Haigslea–Amberley Road through the Walloon area. Large over-dimensional vehicles unable to use these detour routes will need to travel via the Cunninghams Gap. For transport tasks exceeding existing road limits, operators must apply to the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator of Australia for a special permit.

The overall strengthening project also includes adding bridge edge girders and cross beams, replacing some welded connections prone to fatigue cracks with bolted steel plate connections, repairing welds on approach span piers, and renewing bridge deck pavement and safety barriers. The AUD 85 million in construction funding is shared equally between the Australian Federal Government and the Queensland State Government, at AUD 42.5 million each. Related works are planned to continue in 2026, and the existing speed restrictions will be lifted after construction is completed.