{"id":302827,"date":"2021-07-22T19:06:52","date_gmt":"2021-07-22T09:06:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=302827"},"modified":"2021-07-22T19:06:52","modified_gmt":"2021-07-22T09:06:52","slug":"new-bridge-for-rail-trail","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2021\/07\/22\/new-bridge-for-rail-trail\/","title":{"rendered":"New Bridge For Rail Trail"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The need for rail trail users travelling between Goomeri and Kilkivan to wade across Wide Bay Creek should become a thing of the past after Gympie Council opens a new concrete footbridge at the end of September (Photo: Rail Trails Australia)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

July 22, 2021<\/strong><\/p>\n

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).<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Construction is estimated to cost $283,500 and the Council hopes to complete the project by the end of September.<\/p>\n

The bridge will be jointly funded by the State Government’s Works 4 Queensland program and Gympie Regional Council.<\/p>\n

Gympie Deputy Mayor Hilary Smerdon said the bridge was a much-needed addition to the trail.<\/strong><\/p>\n

“I\u2019d like to thank the Queensland Government for helping fund this project,” he said.<\/p>\n

“The rail trail is a great outdoor recreation activity for the region that showcases the history and beauty of the west.<\/p>\n

“It\u2019s about user-friendliness – no more creek hopping!<\/p>\n

“People can enjoy the trail without the inconvenience of dismounting or wading through the creek. The bridge only adds to the trail.”<\/p>\n

The announcement has also been welcomed by the South Burnett Rail Trail Users Association (SBRTUA).<\/strong><\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n