July 22, 2021
Gympie Regional Council has announced it will start work on building a 12.5m concrete pedestrian and cycle bridge across Wide Bay Creek for rail trail users on Monday (July 26).
The new bridge – located about 6.5km south of Kilkivan and 800m from Cinnabar Road – will put an end to cyclists needing to wade across the creek when it is full.
Construction is estimated to cost $283,500 and the Council hopes to complete the project by the end of September.
The bridge will be jointly funded by the State Government’s Works 4 Queensland program and Gympie Regional Council.
Gympie Deputy Mayor Hilary Smerdon said the bridge was a much-needed addition to the trail.
“I’d like to thank the Queensland Government for helping fund this project,” he said.
“The rail trail is a great outdoor recreation activity for the region that showcases the history and beauty of the west.
“It’s about user-friendliness – no more creek hopping!
“People can enjoy the trail without the inconvenience of dismounting or wading through the creek. The bridge only adds to the trail.”
The announcement has also been welcomed by the South Burnett Rail Trail Users Association (SBRTUA).
SBRTUA president Dafyd Martindale said Wide Bay Creek had been a common source of complaint from users ever since the rail trail opened in October 2017.
He said the SBRTUA was confident the bridge would encourage more visitors to use the unsealed northern section of the trail, which would bring positive economic benefits to Goomeri and Kilkivan.
Usage of the sealed section of the rail trail between Kingaroy and Murgon was continuing to grow, according to counters the SBRTUA has placed on it.
- Related article: Gympie Trail To Get $230k Facelift
[Disclosure: Dafyd Martindale is CEO of southburnett.com.au]
