Overpass restrictions stay in place

Restrictions will remain on the Linkfield Road overpass until “further structural analysis and safety repairs are undertaken”.

The bridge was struck by a truck on Thursday morning causing huge delays on Old Gympie Road and surrounding routes.

A spokesperson for Transport and Main Road (TMR) said a car was “struck by falling concrete but thankfully no injuries were sustained”.

Initial inspections were carried and the overpass and both lanes of the southbound offramp reopened to light vehicles, buses and emergency vehicles at 5am today.

However, the spokesperson said: “Due to the damage, the initial assessment determined for safety reasons, heavy vehicles over 4.5 tonnes cannot use the bridge until further structural analysis and safety repairs are undertaken.”

The overpass is already scheduled to be replaced with the spokesperson says a shortlist for tenders has been drawn up.

However, a timeline for construction will not be known until the procurement process has been completed.

The upgrade is to tackle congestion, queue lengths, ramp geometry and “lack of provision for active transport and pedestrians”.

Costing $125 million, the project will be 80 per cent funded by the Federal Government and 20 per cent by the State Government.

Federal Member for Petrie Luke Howarth has urged the State Government to “get cracking” on the new overpass.

In a post to his Instagram account, Mr Howarth said it was the “third time” in recent years Linkfield Rd overpass had been hit by a truck.

“Again, I call on the Labor Government to get cracking on this infrastructure,” he said, “… as well as (highway) off ramps at Griffin and Murrumba Downs.”

The TMR spokesperson said: “We apologise for the delays experienced by road users and encourage motorists to check the QLDTraffic website and app for up-to-date information, or call 13 19 40.”