MONEY has been allocated in the Mount Isa City Council's 2012-13 budget for the construction of a new bridge at Isa Street but the city won't see a new bridge for another few years.
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"Ongoing inspection and assessment of the Isa Street Bridge has revealed a rapid level of deterioration of the structure," Mayor Tony McGrady said in his budget speech to council yesterday.
"Earlier construction methods and availability of materials combined with an aggressive service environment - due to rapid inundation and large debris striking the flooded bridge on a regular basis - has limited the service life of the bridge."
These conditions led to the onset of advanced concrete cancer and the subsequent lowering of the service loads to five tonnes.
"Repairs of the existing structure will be significant with no added benefits including upgrading of the service loading," Cr McGrady said as he indicated a new bridge was needed.
The new bridge would provide an increased level of flood immunity, "although not completely immune," with a balance needed between immunity and cost of construction.
Deputy Mayor and Town Planning and Business Promotion Committee chair Brett Peterson said the project was now in the design stage which would be completed towards the end of this financial year, in June 2013.
"Then we will start with the commencement of works late this financial year, or early next, which will include lifting the level of the bridge to accommodate the average flood level," Cr Peterson said.
The two approaches to the bridge would change, but the construction and the cost of construction would depend on the design stage, he said.
"We have approved funding on a 50/50 basis from Transport Infrastructure Delivery Schemes (TIDS) for the design stage, but we can't put a figure on the total amount at this stage."