❓ A WA parliamentary question regarding the Louge River bridge closure after flood damage, inquiring about the adequacy of the bridge's construction and maintenance, particularly concerning rock armouring and road approaches. The Minister's response generally affirms the bridge's standards and maintenance practices.
AnsweredQoN 1452Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the temporary closure of the Louge River bridge as notified by Main Roads, 'Drivers urged to obey all 'road closed' signage' on 17 January 2018, and ask: (a) is the Minister aware that the bridge approaches were washed away in mid-January 2018 cutting off Derby from the rest of Australia; (b) is the Minister aware that there is no rock armouring or rock under the road approaches to the bridge; (c) is the Minister aware that Main Roads were meant to repair the road by the insertion of rock as a substrate under the road; (d) did the improvement works to the bridge, completed in October 2016 improve the load capacity of the bridge, resulting in reduced maintenance costs for the future and improved serviceability and safety for local and tourist traffic; (e) was the upgrade undertaken in 2016 up to standard; and (f) why was no rock armouring or rock substrate used in road approaches to the bridge?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
12 September 2018
Responded by
Minister for Environment representing the Minister for Transport
Response time
10 days
(a) The road approaches, while damaged when the road was overtopped by floodwaters in 2018, were not completely washed away.
(b) There is rock armouring on the guide banks and under the bridge.
(c) Rocky material was used to repair the damaged road embankments during the 2018 flood events.
(d) Yes
(e) Yes, the bridge upgrade met the required standards.
(f) The existing rock protection at the bridge was adequate when the bridge was upgraded in 2016. Rock protection was not used on the road embankment other than in the adjacent floodway, as it would take a rare event to overtop the road approaches.
(b) There is rock armouring on the guide banks and under the bridge.
(c) Rocky material was used to repair the damaged road embankments during the 2018 flood events.
(d) Yes
(e) Yes, the bridge upgrade met the required standards.
(f) The existing rock protection at the bridge was adequate when the bridge was upgraded in 2016. Rock protection was not used on the road embankment other than in the adjacent floodway, as it would take a rare event to overtop the road approaches.
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