Then-state recovery coordinator Major General Stuart Smith and former Hope Vale Aboriginal Shire Council CEO Steve Linnane inspect the Everlina Bridge in 2019. Photo: Queensland Reconstruction Authority.
Hope Vale Aboriginal Shire Council has announced work has started to upgrade the critical Everlina Bridge to increase its load capacity and improve flood resilience.
There’s currently no estimated completion date for the long-awaited major infrastructure project on Elim Road a short distance from Hope Vale, about 45 kilometres north-west of Cooktown on Cape York.
Orion Project Consulting has been appointed project management consultants by the council, while Lancini Consulting Engineers has taken on the role of design consultants.
Construction of the “transformative” upgrade funded by the State has been scheduled for the 2027 dry season to ensure uninterrupted access during the wet season, according to the council.
The bridge is the only access route to essential services and infrastructure, including a water treatment plant, wastewater treatment plant and the local tip.
Design sketches of the Everlina Bridge upgrade. Image: Hope Vale Aboriginal Shire Council.
The State Assessment and Referral Agency (SARA) has ticked off on the upgrade, alongside other approvals, and environmental, hydraulic and geotechnical investigations have been completed.
Work will minimise environmental impacts and careful consideration has been given to vegetation and waterways, the council states.
Procurement of precast bridge components is due to be finished by December. Mayor Bruce Gibson said at an August council meeting that would be a significant milestone for the project, and put the council in a better position to ensure work would be carried out as scheduled.
The upgraded bridge spanning 74 metres across the Endeavour River’s right branch with reinforced concrete will be raised above the 100-year average flood level and provide more reliable access to Hope Vale during wild weather.
Currently, the single-lane bridge has a 2.5-tonne load capacity, but another lane will be added and the weight limit will be increased to support more emergency and heavy vehicles.
The upgraded bridge should be more durable due to the use of “advanced engineering techniques, including prestressed concrete deck units and reinforced concrete piers”. It will be built on the existing alignment, maintaining its position within the Elim Road reserve.
Editor’s note: This story has been edited to remove an estimated completion date of the project and other details following an update by the Queensland Reconstruction Authority.
