Possibilities for upgrading the Bli Bli bridge and its approaches are under investigation by a construction services company on behalf of the Department of Transport and Main Roads.
TMR has engaged GHD to conduct a thorough investigation into “enhancement possibilities” for the bridge and its approaches.
A TMR statement said the GHD study would draw on community feedback provided for the Maroochdyore-Noosa Road Route Strategy in 2022, and would aim to address priorities highlighted by residents.
These priorities include connectivity for people walking and riding bikes, as well as safety and congestion in Bli Bli.
The statement said TMR and GHD would seek to identify a preferred upgrade option that optimised efficiency, safety and reliability for all road users.
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The Queensland government has allocated $1.6 million for the planning phase but the statement said timeframes for detailed planning, design and construction would depend on future funding commitments and state-wide priorities.
The two-lane bridge over the Maroochy River on David Low Way was built in 1959 and is an important link for the fast-growing community at Bli Bli and beyond.
In recent years, the road has seen increased traffic volumes and congestion as a result of the population expansion.
Transport and Main Roads Minister Bart Mellish said the planning for a future upgrade of the bridge marked a dedicated effort towards addressing the evolving needs of the community for a safer transport network.
“An upgraded bridge with improved active transport facilities will improve connectivity either side of the Maroochy River connecting Bli Bli with Pacific Paradise and beyond in the north and to Maroochydore in the south,” he said.
Member for Nicklin Rob Skelton said it was essential to plan for the bridge’s future to service the community’s needs.
“This planning phase will take into account community feedback provided since 2022, which highlighted active transport, safety and congestion as the top priorities,” he said.
“I’m keen to see the outcomes of the planning and will continue to work with the community for an improved Bli Bli bridge.”
GHD’s website says it grew from a small engineering practice in Melbourne in 1928 into a global professional services company with more than 11,000 employees in 160 offices on five continents.
It says it is “committed to making water, energy, and communities sustainable for generations to come”.
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