Gympie Regional Council has advised that the low level bridge over a perennial water crossing on the Kilkivan to Kingaroy Rail Trail at Wide Bay Creek (some 225 NW of Brisbane) has now been completed. Council obtained matching funding from the Queensland State Government for a total of $283,500 to design and call tenders for construction of the bridge. Construction commenced in July and was completed by the end of September. This crossing had presented a major obstacle on the trail about six kilometres out from the trailhead at Kilkivan. Water levels constantly fluctuate at this point, varying from dry to waist deep, depending on rainfall.
The design of the bridge has caused concern from Rail Trails Australia and rail trail users over the use of steps and a steep ramp. Gympie Regional Council has responded to enquiries of the design by stating that the bridge is designed to be inundated during rainfall events and is for the use of walkers and mountain bikers. Horse riders are expected to walk their steeds through the crossing beside the bridge.
A Council Planning Officer has acknowledged concerns over the design with a statement (29/09/2021) saying “Council is presently considering suitable solutions to improve the usability of this bridge, most specifically relating to the access ramps and stairs of the bridge where they meet the gravel trail.” RTA looks forward to these concerns being addressed.
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5 comments on “New bridge at water crossing on Kilkivan to Kingaroy”
What a crazy design ! Nobody is going to dismount ……… a shallow ramp at either end was all that was needed. As for the roadside posts …….. yeh they'll flex nicely as someone goes over the edge or wants to grab something firm, round steel posts with galvanized pipe(nothing sharp) would have done the trick. Strikes me this was made up of parts lying around the council depot. $283,000 – what a joke.
What ! Get it right the first time I would have thought ? Doing the right thing by your Constituents ? Tax payers where the funding no doubt would have come from ? What a JOKE !
The bridge has been a long time coming and I was very critical of there not having one. However to be fair I can see why it has been design as it has, because the bridge had to be raised above to river banks there needed to be a ramp and steps ,the ramp is to wheel the bikes up and the steps the rider uses to climb while pushing their bike up the ramp. This method is used in New Zealand on occasions and if used correctly works well .
Gympie City Council should never have approved it. If I was a GCC rate payer I'd be asking for an explanation as to why I have to pay due to their incompetence.
A person can only wonder at what were they thinking when they designed and built that abomination