Work on Youngs Crossing Road flood fix starts this year
Work on a long-awaited bridge to mitigate flooding issues on Youngs Crossing Rd at Joyner is expected to start in the second half of the year.
Moreton Bay Regional Council today announced expressions of interest to build the 212m bridge would be sought next month.
Endorsing the next step at Council’s first meeting of the year, Mayor Peter Flannery says the bridge will improve flood immunity and cater for growing traffic on the notorious stretch of road.
“Right now, 20,000 vehicles (per day) use this stretch of road,” he says.
“That’s thousands of locals cut off from vital services the moment heavy rain rolls through or the nearby dam releases water.
“With that number expected to grow as our region grows, this is the time to build a solution that will make sure people can get where they need safely.”
As part of the project, which is jointly funded project by Council and the Federal Government, the bridge will be built west of the existing road.
Boost for jobs
The project will also include upgrades to the Protheroe Rd intersection and ongoing access to nearby parks as requested by locals.
Mayor Flannery says the project will drive jobs in construction for the region, with the new bridge expected to generate more than 500 positions.
“Construction alone contributes more than $5 billion to our economy every year, and we want to keep that momentum with a pipeline of major projects like this, the Mill at Moreton Bay and our ambitions for a second Bruce Highway.
Dickson Federal MP Peter Dutton welcomed progress on the project and says the Federal Government has committed more than $30 million towards the upgrade.
“Thanks to our funding commitment, council has already been able to get started on early works and bring about a solution that’ll provide resilience for a one in 100-year flood event,” Mr Dutton says.
“It only takes a few severe storms like the ones we’ve seen just this summer to put Young Crossing out of action, forcing drivers to take a much longer detour and putting pressure on other roads like the Bruce Highway and Old Gympie Rd.
The expressions of interest process will run until April, with short-listed businesses then invited to tender for the project and start work in the second half of the year, weather and construction conditions permitting.