Transport and Main Roads Queensland (TMR) has begun preliminary works to reconfigure the Mount Crosby Road Overpass and reopen a southbound lane to traffic under load and speed restrictions.
This follows an incident on Friday, May 16, at 1.34am, where an oversize, overmass
(OSOM) vehicle carrying a wind turbine section was travelling along the Warrego Highway at North Tivoli and crashed into Mount Crosby Road Overpass.
Though the overpass was reopened some days later on Tuesday, May 20, following structural assessments by TMR, travel restrictions have remained in place – including a30-tonne vehicle weight limit (with exemptions for fire trucks), a 20km/h speed restriction, and physical traffic control measures to manage a single-lane operation for travel in the northbound direction only.
TMR says night works will take place between the hours of 8pm to 5am, over the next four weeks as it works to reopen the southbound lane.
These works will include demolishing the western footpath, adjusting guardrails, widening the road to create a traffic lane and removing electrical cabling.
During work hours, the overpass will be closed to all traffic, with detours in place. Northbound traffic can use Pine Mountain Road, rejoining via the Warrego Hwy eastbound off-ramp. While for southbound traffic, the detour via River Road remains in place.
“We know this closure is challenging for the community, especially those north of the Warrego Highway,” said TMR. “Our teams are working hard to restore this critical connection safely and efficiently.”
Meanwhile, investigations into the cause of the OSOM incident are continuing.
Following the incident, Queensland Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg said the truck had a permit that required it to leave the highway via a roundabout. “The escort took that trip, but the truck did not,” Mickelberg said.
“There will be an investigation from the Queensland Police Service and my department. Pending that investigation, we will take action as appropriate.”
The wind turbine tower section was being transported to Wambo Wind Farm.