Roaring success for new Lion Creek Bridge on Rockhampton Ring Road
Spanning more than 61 metres and using locally manufactured concrete decks, the Rockhampton Ring Road project's new Lion Creek Bridge is complete and ready to use.
It is the first of 18 bridges on the project to be completed and replaces the old timber bridge with a much more flood resilient structure, improving accessibility for the Pink Lily and Ridgelands communities during wet weather events.
The original crossing of Lion Creek was built in the late 1800s.
The completion of the new bridge coincides with the re-opening of Canoona Road, as work on the West Rockhampton local road connections to the Ring Road are finalised.
This improved access to Rockhampton will provide better connectivity to key destinations south of the Fitzroy River, including to the airport and hospital, as well as defence, education, and leisure precincts in the city and Wandal.
A 204-metre-long bridge over Limestone Creek in Parkhurst will also shortly be completed as part of the early works program.
With the early works program set for completion by the middle of this year, the Rockhampton Ring Road will transition to the main works program, which will include:
- 17.4 kilometres of new roadway including approximately 14.7 kilometres of Ring Road alignment starting from a new southern roundabout on the Capricorn Highway.
- A new 435-metre long third bridge over the Fitzroy River between Pink Lily and Kawana, including shared active transport facilities.
- Another 15 (for a total of 18) bridges along the main ring road alignment, including eight road overpasses and seven water crossings.
- Improved connectivity to key precincts including West Rockhampton, North Rockhampton, and the Capricorn Coast.
The $1.98 billion Rockhampton Ring Road project is funded by both governments, with the Australian Government providing $1.4 billion and the Queensland Government providing $580 million.
The project will transform the way commuters, freight and travellers access Rockhampton, with improved flood resilience, travel times and road safety enhancing visitors' experience of the region.
