Mount Isa City Council say work has begun on the replacement for the Isa Street Bridge but sadly the big tree on the north side of the Leichhardt river will have to go.
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Problems with the current structure were identified as far back as 2012.
Constant flooding and the old materials used to build the bridge caused an onset of advanced concrete cancer and the bridge load limit was reduced to five tonnes.
A new bridge would be raised to deal with the flood threat.
Council received $3.67m in round three of the Federal Government’s Bridges Renewal Program in 2017 to replace the bridge though the total cost of a replacement will be $6.61m with Council starting work but continuing to look for other funding options.
Now Council says connection of the sewer main will continue in the next few weeks following the installation of the construction control survey.
Council said preconstruction work will commence with the preparation of the laydown area for the prefabricated beams and culverts which have been ordered at a cost $1.2 million.
“Unfortunately, as part of this project, the large rain tree situated near the bridge will require removal to allow for a realignment of approaches on to the new bridge,” the Council said.
“We only remove trees where absolutely necessary for health and safety reason or major planning projects.”
Native to Central and South America, rain trees have been widely planted for shade in the tropics.
Derek Barry
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
