A major upgrade on Ingham Road is officially underway, which is encouraging for those seeking civil works apprenticeships in Townsville.
After decades of rain-forced closures on Ingham Road, work on the $24 million Blakeys Crossing upgrade began late last week. The project is forecast to generate more than 350 jobs in the area.
Work on the Queensland government-funded project was officially launched on Friday 18 October by Mayor Jenny Hill, who was joined by State Minister for Transport and Main Roads Scott Emerson and other state members for the ceremony.
“Ingham Road has become increasingly important as an alternative access into the city with the explosion of growth in the northern beaches and it’s a vital link for many local businesses,” said Ms Hill.
“There will be a lot of grateful people when this project is completed at the end of next year in time for the 2014-15 wet season and the regular closures because of rain will be a thing of the past.”
Member for Townsville John Hathaway said the State Government had delivered on the $24 million funding commitments to flood proof Blakeys Crossing.
“The funding was a commitment made by the three local members, including myself, the Member for Mundingburra David Crisafulli and the Member for Thuringowa Sam Cox,” Mr Hathaway said.
Months of detailed investigation went into developing the most cost-effective construction solution for the project.
“It hasn’t been the easiest project to design because of the difficulty of the sensitivity of the local environment and conditions, but now it’s all systems go,” said Council’s Infrastructure Committee chairman Councillor Trevor Roberts.
The scale of the upgrade is immense, with the project expected to require more than 3,700 cubic metres of rock armour, 13,000 tonnes of rock fill, 26,500 cubic metres of fill and 5,000 cubic metres of gravel.
The upgrade is designed to a Q50 standard, meaning construction on Blakeys Crossing should be a once in 50 year event.
The project is planned in two stages either side of the coming wet season.
The work planned for the pre-wet season includes widening of the existing road way, formation of the earthworks required and the manufacture and procurement of pre-cast concrete bridge components.
Bridge construction, gravel pavements and surfacing, road lighting and finishing works will be completed next year, after the wet season.
