A vital piece of infrastructure on one of the Coast’s busiest roads is being put into place, thanks to the help of a 250-tonne crane.
The crane is moving 75 pre-cast reinforced concrete deck units into place for the remaining two lanes of the new four-lane bridge over Mayes Canal on Brisbane Road at Mooloolaba.
Construction crews this month have been finalising the installation of the bridge piers and abutments ahead of the deck units arriving.
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Once the deck units are in place, a reinforced concrete slab will be laid to provide a uniform surface to construct the new road. Asphalt laying and line marking will follow before the traffic lanes are open to the community in May (weather permitting).
Four lanes of traffic north of the Mayes Canal Bridge were opened just before Christmas.
Sunshine Coast Council Division 4 Councillor Joe Natoli said the project was part of the Mooloolaba Transport Corridor Upgrade stage two works.
“If you’re travelling along Brisbane Road, you may have caught a glimpse of the large crane which has moved into position near the bowls club,” Cr Natoli said.
“The crane will lift 75 pre-cast reinforced concrete deck units, which will form the bridge span.
“To minimise inconvenience to the community the deck units were made off-site and craned in as part of the 26.4m-wide bridge.”
Once complete, the new bridge will have four traffic lanes (two lanes each way), shared pedestrian and cycle paths on both sides and a timber viewing platform.
It will have the same clearance as the current bridge.
“This project is going to improve traffic flow, enhance the southern entrance into Mooloolaba and create a corridor that is inviting for pedestrians, cyclists, motorists and public transport users,” Cr Natoli said.
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