The new Isa Street Bridge has been reopened and it's great to have that option to cross the river again.
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I lost count of the number of times, especially in the month or so after the old bridge was closed, that I drove down Isa St on automatic and not realising I could not cross the river until I saw the sign.
This was a minor inconvenience for a much needed project which cost $7 million (funded with the help of $2.24m from the Federal Government's Bridges Renewal Program and $635,000 from the State Government's Transport Infrastructure Development Scheme and Council providing the balance).
The old bridge was built in 1932 and "the little bridge" served the city well over the years.
Indeed it was the only proper bridge between mine and town side until the Gray St Bridge was built in 1967.
In recent years it has been showing its age and flooding has added to the damage.
The concrete support structures of the old Isa Street Bridge had been also suffering from "cancer"
The new structure would have a higher flood immunity and increase carrying capacity from the existing five tonnes to be capable of carrying a loaded semi.
The new bridge is 900mm higher and significantly wider than the old structure while the traffic lights on the intersection of Fourth Avenue and Isa Street have also been replaced with a roundabout with three refuge pedestrian crossings.
Congratulations to Mount Isa City Council for a well-designed project and an enjoyable opening ceremony on Friday.
It will be a great asset for the city in the decades to come.
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This is the final edition of the North West Star for 2019 and therefore the final editorial.
We wish our readers a safe, peaceful, happy and enjoyable Christmas and New Year period.
I'm off to Norfolk Island to relax for a couple of week (and hopefully cool down a bit!).
Look forward to catching up with you all in what promises to be a big 2020.
Bring on the new decade!
Derek Barry