Six Mile Creek Bridge load limit change for Old Noosa Road

Council has lowered the Six Mile Creek Bridge load limit on Old Noosa Road down to 16 tonnes.

Project Officer Daniel Wishaw said the bridge was nearing the end of its useable life, with Council making the decision to lower the load limit following recent heavy rain.

“The bridge was completely inundated by floodwater during the rain, so we sent engineers to check its condition,” Mr Wishaw said.

“They found that the bridge has deteriorated since they last inspected it, and, as such, recommended that the load limit be reduced from 25 tonnes to 16 tonnes.”

Mr Wishaw said the change to the load limit would only be temporary, with work to replace the bridge scheduled for mid-next year after Council received grant funding toward the project.

Built in the 1940s Old Noosa Road bridge is a single-span timber structure that crosses Six Mile Creek to the north of Cooran. 

“Council has been monitoring this bridge for some time and has been repairing it intermittently to maintain its usable life,” Mr Wishaw said.

“Due to the condition of the structure it is very important that people do not attempt to cross this bridge during flooding conditions, even if the water is not over the bridge deck.”

Structural engineers will check the bridge regularly until Council replaces it.

The Australian Government contribution will be funded by the Bridges Renewal Program.

6 November 2017