Shelley’s Crossing at Laura will be closed for large sections of the day for maintenance works.
UPDATE: Planned works at the Shelley’s Crossing bridge at Laura have been pushed back by the Department of Transport and Main Roads.
In an email to stakeholders on Thursday (May 25), a TMR representative said the water levels in the river were too high to commence the work.
“The second stage of works was due to start from Monday 29 May 2023, however the water depth in the river crossing is currently too high for works to commence,” the email read.
“The Department of Transport and Main Roads is monitoring the water level and will advise a new commencement date for the works once confirmed. Stage two works may start from early or mid-June 2023 depending on the water depth in the crossing.”
ORIGINAL STORY: A major traffic block will occur in Cape York next week, but many locals would have been none the wiser if not for the efforts of a handful of people.
Bridge deck replacement works on the Shelley’s Crossing bridge at Laura will start on Monday, May 29, resulting in lengthy road closures at the bottleneck.
All traffic going north and south on the Peninsula Developmental Road goes through Shelley’s Crossing, just north of the Laura township.
However, TMR hasn’t advertised the planned closure. It has sent some emails to Cook Shire Council and a few other agencies.
Luckily, a few concerned citizens have tried to spread the word via social media.
The bridge will be closed for nine hours between 7am and 5pm, with two small windows for traffic to get through.
The bridge will open from 8.30am to 9am before shutting, then re-open at 12.30pm until 1pm.
“There will not be an alternate route available during the bridge closure times,” said the email from TMR, which was not sent to Cape York Weekly.
“TMR has arrangements in place to provide emergency access during the bridge closures if required. The bridge will be open at night.
“For the safety of road users and maintenance crews, changed traffic conditions will be in place including temporary speed limit reductions. Road users should expect delays and plan their journey accordingly.”
The project, which will replace the bridge ply deck and reinstate the asphalt-wearing surface that was damaged during flooding, is expected to be completed by late June, weather and construction conditions permitting.
