Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall, left, and Inverell Shire Deputy Mayor Anthony Michaels pictured on the Spring Creek Bridge on Bruxner Way. It is one of the 14 bridges which will be assessed with the funding.
MEMBER for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall has today announced $112,025 in State Government funding for Inverell Shire Council to undertake a structural assessment of 14 bridges and 149 culverts along Bruxner Way.
Mr Marshall said the analysis, funded through the government’s new Fixing Country Roads program, would pave the way for the important freight route to be opened up for heavy vehicle access.
“This would greatly improve the freight transport efficiency in the region, saving hundreds of kilometres in extra trips, increase road safety and ultimately reduce costs for our local primary producers,” Mr Marshall said.
“I commend Inverell Shire Council for wanting to open up this route for Higher Mass Limits (HML) use and am very pleased they now have the funds to undertake the required analysis.”
Bruxner Way within Inverell Shire is not currently open for Higher Productivity Vehicle usage at Higher Mass Limits. The major constraint for the approval of the route for HML is the required assessment of council’s bridge and culvert structures.
“Council has received numerous requests for the route to be approved for HML, but in each case have had to decline due to the lack of funding available for structure assessment,” Mr Marshall said.
“With this funding council will now engage a contractor for the purpose of structural analysis of the 14 bridges and 149 culverts structures along the Bruxner Way.
“If the analysis is positive, then council will make formal moves to open up the route.”
Mr marshall said productivity gains achieved with the upgrade to HML access were well documented and with vehicles able to increase mass above General Mass Limits, reduction of vehicle movements per freight task will be achieved.
“In the case of Bruxner Way, the productivity gains will be significant, with an estimated 2,000 movements per year avoiding 200 kilometres of travel between Goondiwindi and Tenterfield,” he said.