Latest news with #TeresaHarding
ABC News
21-05-2025
- Automotive
- ABC News
Mount Crosby overpass reopens after truck crashes into bridge on Warrego Highway
The damage bill from a truck crash on a major Queensland highway is expected to run into the tens of millions of dollars, and some warn it could happen again unless upgrades are fast-tracked. A truck carrying parts of a wind turbine struck the Mount Crosby Bridge on the Warrego Highway near Ipswich about 1:40am on Friday, after reportedly failing to follow escort vehicles onto an off-ramp. The crash forced the closure of the highway's westbound lanes for two-and-a-half days, disrupting freight and local traffic. One lane on the overpass reopened Tuesday, but the bridge won't be able to carry heavy vehicles until permanent repairs are completed. A Queensland police spokesperson said investigations into the crash were continuing. Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said the community was relieved to see the highway reopen. "There was a lot of anxiety in our community that this was going to take some time to repair," she said. "Our experience with bridge strikes is they can take over a year [to repair]." Ms Harding said she understood the bill would be "at least tens of millions of dollars". "I understand that [the Department of Transport and Main Roads] will be billing the responsible or the liable organisation for that," she said. The Warrego Highway is a major freight highway that links south-east Queensland to Toowoomba, the Darling Downs and Maranoa region. It connects to other highways, connecting to Mount Isa and the Northern Territory and is a major inland freight route. According to TMR, about 30,000 vehicles use the westbound section of the highway every day. Freight industry advocates said the crash was part of a larger problem — a fragile network that can't handle the increasing number of oversized vehicle movements linked to Queensland's energy and construction boom. The truck was carrying parts of a wind turbine bound for a wind farm construction site in south-west Queensland. Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise (TSBE), which works closely with energy and freight companies as the economic development body for the Darling Downs region, has been campaigning for upgrades to the Warrego Highway for several years. Strategic Partnerships manager Lance MacManus said there were many "inefficiencies" on that part of the highway. "There's been over 2,500 of those heavy traffic movements like that wind tower that we've seen [on the Warrego] since 2019 and we have more to come for wind farms," he said. "We'll probably see that again in the next 18 months. Unfortunately, this was just a really, really public accident." Deficiencies discovered in the nearby Bremer River Bridge forced speed limits to be reduced for all motorists and weight limits introduced for trucks. Oversized heavy vehicles must travel late at night and switch to the eastbound lane when travelling west — closing the highway to all other traffic — and exit and re-enter the highway at the Mount Crosby Bridge due to height restrictions. TMR is currently working on an $85 million project to strengthen the river bridge. Mr MacManus said the detour created added cost for businesses, who he said worked safely and reliably. "The optimal opportunity would be to be able to travel from the Port [of Brisbane] out to site along the Warrego travelling at 80kph with pilot vehicles," he said. "Unfortunately, this [incident] came about because we're trying to create a work around." His colleague, TSBE strategic communications manager Katie Craymer, said it was unknown at this stage when movements would be allowed to return to normal, as current works were just a band-aid fix. "What they're doing at the moment is remedial, they're just trying to keep it up … but it's not going to actually fix it, so even when they finish those remedial works, it's not going to be up to a point where it's going to be better," she said. "It's on life support essentially. "We need visibility to the long-term solution." Ms Craymer said there were many sections of the Warrego Highway, such as the Glenore Grove crossroads in the Lockyer Valley, which get cut off due to flooding, and there was another bridge near Miles that needed urgent upgrades. "The Warrego Highway is actually the second most trafficked highway in Queensland behind the Bruce, so it's not insignificant," she said. She said she wanted to see similar investment as was promised for the Bruce Highway. Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said the "lack of detail" around works at the Bremer River Bridge, and planned upgrades to the Mount Crosby Bridge and intersection, needed to be sorted quickly. "So far we don't know when the work's going to start and we don't know when it's going to finish, so there's again a bit of anxiety around our community," she said. Transport Minister Brett Mickelberg said there had been a "considerable effort" by all involved to reopen the highway after the wind turbine crash. "Our focus now shifts to making sure the overpass is restored as quickly as possible," he said. "There is considerable damage to the bridge which has been rectified so that it is safe but it won't be able to carry heavy loads until it is repaired properly." The Department of Transport and Main Roads was contacted for comment.
News.com.au
19-05-2025
- Automotive
- News.com.au
Overpass to reopen days after Warrego Highway wind turbine bridge strike
Authorities say an overpass on a major Queensland highway that was closed after a truck carrying part of a wind turbine slammed into it could reopen within days. The Warrego Highway - west of Brisbane - was thrown into chaos on Friday morning after the bridge strike, which left the turbine part being carried by the truck wedged underneath the Mount Crosby Road overpass at North Tivoli. The turbine has since been removed and westbound lanes of the highway reopened, but concerns lingered about when the overpass would be back to full capacity. Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said on Saturday that the incident was having a 'major impact' for residents and freighting companies moving through the state's southeast, and that the closure of the overpass created a 30-minute detour. 'There's a lot of anxiety in our community about how long it's going to take,' she said as per 9News. 'We have seen other major accidents like this take over a year to be completed, so we're very keen to hear from (the Department of Transport and Main Roads).' The government body soon able to alleviate these fears, confirming to NewsWire that the overpass would reopen before the end of the week on their current timeline. 'The Mount Crosby Road overpass remains closed to traffic, with structural assessments and bridge repairs ongoing,' a TMR spokesperson said. 'Works are continuing to safely reopen part of the overpass to traffic as soon as possible, which may involve speed and load restrictions being put in place, pending the results of the structural assessment. 'This timeline remains dependent on the outcome of structural assessments, weather, safety requirements and construction conditions. 'The public can continue to expect delays, with traffic control in place and warning signs active across the advanced notification network.' Ms Harding has since thanked TMR, police, and Ipswich council workers for their efforts since the bridge strike. 'It took 41 hours from bridge strike to the Warrego opening,' she said. 'TMR will continue to work on repairing the Mount Crosby Road overpass, which remains closed, with at least a partial access opening late this week.' The truck driver, a man in his 50s, was assessed by paramedics at the scene. He was uninjured and has since been taken to Ipswich Hospital for further assessment. Police believe the truck may have failed to follow escorting vehicles up an offramp to go around the Mount Crosby overpass, and instead ploughed into the overhead bridge.
Perth Now
19-05-2025
- Automotive
- Perth Now
Huge update after bridge strike chaos
Authorities say an overpass on a major Queensland highway that was closed after a truck carrying part of a wind turbine slammed into it could reopen within days. The Warrego Highway - west of Brisbane - was thrown into chaos on Friday morning after the bridge strike, which left the turbine part being carried by the truck wedged underneath the Mount Crosby Road overpass at North Tivoli. The turbine has since been removed and westbound lanes of the highway reopened, but concerns lingered about when the overpass would be back to full capacity. Major highway set to reopen later this week, amid fears of long-term closures. Facebook/David Martin: Ipswich Credit: News Corp Australia Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said on Saturday that the incident was having a 'major impact' for residents and freighting companies moving through the state's southeast, and that the closure of the overpass created a 30-minute detour. 'There's a lot of anxiety in our community about how long it's going to take,' she said as per 9News. 'We have seen other major accidents like this take over a year to be completed, so we're very keen to hear from (the Department of Transport and Main Roads).' The government body soon able to alleviate these fears, confirming to NewsWire that the overpass would reopen before the end of the week on their current timeline. 'The Mount Crosby Road overpass remains closed to traffic, with structural assessments and bridge repairs ongoing,' a TMR spokesperson said. 'Works are continuing to safely reopen part of the overpass to traffic as soon as possible, which may involve speed and load restrictions being put in place, pending the results of the structural assessment. The overpass is predicted to open later this week, at least partially. Facebook/TransportAccidentReport-Australia Wide Credit: News Corp Australia 'This timeline remains dependent on the outcome of structural assessments, weather, safety requirements and construction conditions. 'The public can continue to expect delays, with traffic control in place and warning signs active across the advanced notification network.' Ms Harding has since thanked TMR, police, and Ipswich council workers for their efforts since the bridge strike. Police believe the truck may have failed to follow escorting vehicles up an offramp to go around the overpass. Credit: News Corp Australia 'It took 41 hours from bridge strike to the Warrego opening,' she said. 'TMR will continue to work on repairing the Mount Crosby Road overpass, which remains closed, with at least a partial access opening late this week.' The truck driver, a man in his 50s, was assessed by paramedics at the scene. He was uninjured and has since been taken to Ipswich Hospital for further assessment. Police believe the truck may have failed to follow escorting vehicles up an offramp to go around the Mount Crosby overpass, and instead ploughed into the overhead bridge.
Daily Mail
17-05-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
Investigation into wind turbine crash that caused lengthy delays on major highway
A police investigation has been launched after a truck carrying a wind turbine tower got stuck under a major highway overpass, causing traffic delays and long detours. The turbine tower got lodged on part of the Warrego Highway in south-east Queensland about 1.40am on Friday. The turbine was removed 12 hours later, with the westbound lane of highway expected to reopen on Sunday afternoon and part of the overpass to reopen within a week. Initial investigations suggest the driver of the oversized truck failed to follow escorting vehicles to an off ramp, instead continuing on the highway. Queensland's Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg said the truck had a permit requiring it to leave the highway via a roundabout. 'The escort took that trip, but the truck did not,' he said on Saturday. 'There will be an investigation from the Queensland Police Service and my department. Pending that investigation, we will take action as appropriate. 'We need to understand what happened here and ensure it doesn't happen in the future.' The turbine had caused significant damage to the overpass and road, Mr Mickelberg added. The turbine was removed with extreme care in small increments to allow engineers to assess the bridge structure. It was removed from the site by Qube Haulage, the company whose vehicle was carrying the turbine part. Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding initially feared the overpass could be closed for up to a year. 'I'm very grateful (in terms of the reopening timeline),' she said. 'I just ask for people to be a bit patient over the next week while those detours are in place.' She said the detour was adding 30 minutes to the trips of commuting locals. The Warrego Highway connects Brisbane with parts of Queensland west of the capital, such as Toowoomba. The driver of the truck, a man aged in his 50s, was taken to hospital for assessment.
The Advertiser
17-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Advertiser
Traffic angst as wind turbine crash shuts major highway
Motorists have been forced into substantial detours after a truck carrying a wind turbine tower got stuck under a major highway overpass. The turbine tower was carefully removed on Friday night after the crash on the Warrego Highway in southeast Queensland. Initial investigations suggest the driver of the oversized truck failed to follow escorting vehicles onto an off ramp, instead continuing on the highway. The westbound lane at the Mount Crosby Road overpass remained closed on Saturday morning, more than 24 hours after the accident. The crash was having a major impact on residents and freight companies, forcing a 30-minute detour each way for locals, Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding told Nine's Today show. "There is a lot of anxiety in the community about how long it is going to take (to reopen the road)," she said. "We have seen other major accidents like this take over a year." The turbine was removed with extreme care in small increments allowing engineers to assess the bridge structure, Queensland's department of transport and main roads said. It was removed from the site by Qube Haulage, the company whose vehicle was carrying the turbine part. Department inspections of the overpass are ongoing. Work will then commence to clear debris, remove any loose concrete and repair pavement. "The public can continue to expect delays, with traffic control in place and warning signs active," the department said. The Warrego Highway connects Brisbane with western parts of Queensland, such as Toowoomba. The driver of the truck, a man aged in his 50s, was taken to hospital for assessment. Motorists have been forced into substantial detours after a truck carrying a wind turbine tower got stuck under a major highway overpass. The turbine tower was carefully removed on Friday night after the crash on the Warrego Highway in southeast Queensland. Initial investigations suggest the driver of the oversized truck failed to follow escorting vehicles onto an off ramp, instead continuing on the highway. The westbound lane at the Mount Crosby Road overpass remained closed on Saturday morning, more than 24 hours after the accident. The crash was having a major impact on residents and freight companies, forcing a 30-minute detour each way for locals, Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding told Nine's Today show. "There is a lot of anxiety in the community about how long it is going to take (to reopen the road)," she said. "We have seen other major accidents like this take over a year." The turbine was removed with extreme care in small increments allowing engineers to assess the bridge structure, Queensland's department of transport and main roads said. It was removed from the site by Qube Haulage, the company whose vehicle was carrying the turbine part. Department inspections of the overpass are ongoing. Work will then commence to clear debris, remove any loose concrete and repair pavement. "The public can continue to expect delays, with traffic control in place and warning signs active," the department said. The Warrego Highway connects Brisbane with western parts of Queensland, such as Toowoomba. The driver of the truck, a man aged in his 50s, was taken to hospital for assessment. Motorists have been forced into substantial detours after a truck carrying a wind turbine tower got stuck under a major highway overpass. The turbine tower was carefully removed on Friday night after the crash on the Warrego Highway in southeast Queensland. Initial investigations suggest the driver of the oversized truck failed to follow escorting vehicles onto an off ramp, instead continuing on the highway. The westbound lane at the Mount Crosby Road overpass remained closed on Saturday morning, more than 24 hours after the accident. The crash was having a major impact on residents and freight companies, forcing a 30-minute detour each way for locals, Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding told Nine's Today show. "There is a lot of anxiety in the community about how long it is going to take (to reopen the road)," she said. "We have seen other major accidents like this take over a year." The turbine was removed with extreme care in small increments allowing engineers to assess the bridge structure, Queensland's department of transport and main roads said. It was removed from the site by Qube Haulage, the company whose vehicle was carrying the turbine part. Department inspections of the overpass are ongoing. Work will then commence to clear debris, remove any loose concrete and repair pavement. "The public can continue to expect delays, with traffic control in place and warning signs active," the department said. The Warrego Highway connects Brisbane with western parts of Queensland, such as Toowoomba. The driver of the truck, a man aged in his 50s, was taken to hospital for assessment. Motorists have been forced into substantial detours after a truck carrying a wind turbine tower got stuck under a major highway overpass. The turbine tower was carefully removed on Friday night after the crash on the Warrego Highway in southeast Queensland. Initial investigations suggest the driver of the oversized truck failed to follow escorting vehicles onto an off ramp, instead continuing on the highway. The westbound lane at the Mount Crosby Road overpass remained closed on Saturday morning, more than 24 hours after the accident. The crash was having a major impact on residents and freight companies, forcing a 30-minute detour each way for locals, Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding told Nine's Today show. "There is a lot of anxiety in the community about how long it is going to take (to reopen the road)," she said. "We have seen other major accidents like this take over a year." The turbine was removed with extreme care in small increments allowing engineers to assess the bridge structure, Queensland's department of transport and main roads said. It was removed from the site by Qube Haulage, the company whose vehicle was carrying the turbine part. Department inspections of the overpass are ongoing. Work will then commence to clear debris, remove any loose concrete and repair pavement. "The public can continue to expect delays, with traffic control in place and warning signs active," the department said. The Warrego Highway connects Brisbane with western parts of Queensland, such as Toowoomba. The driver of the truck, a man aged in his 50s, was taken to hospital for assessment.
