Logan City Council has begun widening the Ray Hodgson Bridge on Loganlea Road at Slacks Creek as part of a $77.7 million upgrade of the stretch from Meadowbrook to the M1.
Over the next four weeks, eight piles will be poured up to 7 metres into the bedrock under Slacks Creek, to carry the extra weight of an additional northbound traffic lane, footpath and bikeway.
Steel liners will be driven into the ground to the full depth of the piles, before the earth is drilled out from inside each liner.
The steel reinforced piles will then be poured into the excavated holes. The new 70m long bridge deck will be built over the top in mid-2024.
Infrastructure chair, Councillor Teresa Lane, said bridge building is complex work but the disruption to traffic, residents and businesses would be minimal.
“The benefits will be huge. The city will undergo some tremendous growth in coming years, and it’s crucial we have a roads network to cope, and get drivers home quicker and safer,” Lane said.
Minister for Infrastructure Catherine King said, “Projects like this ensure our road networks support residents to get home safely from each trip while keeping freight connected to our cities and regions.”
“The Australian Government is proud to be jointly funding this vital bridge-widening project for Logan, delivering on our election commitments and making a real difference for the community,” Minister King said.
Treasurer and Member for Rankin Jim Chalmers added, “Projects like this one are important for local jobs and the local economy but also for future proofing Logan City – ensuring we continue to create more jobs and more opportunities for more people in our community.”
The works are being jointly funded, with the council contributing $55.2 million to the Loganlea Road upgrade; and $22.5 million in funding coming from the Australian Government’s Infrastructure Investment Program.