After a delay of almost two years, the $131 million Archer River bridge has been opened to vehicular traffic ahead of the 2024 wet season. Photo: Supplied.
The newly-minted Minister for Transport and Main Roads has slammed mismanagement by the former Labor government as the $131.25 million Archer River bridge has finally welcomed vehicular traffic almost two years behind schedule.
One lane of the crossing was opened to traffic this month after a series of construction delays and a cost blowout of nearly $100m hampered the project, which was initially budgeted to cost $32.3m and be completed by the end of 2022.
Minister for Transport and Main Roads Brent Mickelberg told Cape York Weekly while it was a positive the crossing had been completed before the wet season, he intended to get an answer on the delays and budget explosion, which the previous government attributed to “significant geotechnical challenges” at the site.
“While it’s exciting for Far North Queenslanders to finally see the Archer River bridge open and secure better access for our remote communities, the project was mismanaged from the start by the former Labor government,” he said.
“The budget for the critical Archer River Crossing project was blown out by almost $100 million under Labor; I am being briefed on this important project and I am keen to understand what went wrong under Labor to cause such significant delays and budget blowouts.”
Mr Mickelberg said he would advocate with his federal colleagues to ensure state three of the Cape York Region Package, which aims to seal the Peninsula Developmental Road to Weipa, was funded.
“I’ll be fighting for Queensland’s fair share from the Federal Government, including an 80:20 funding arrangement for critical projects like the Cape York Region Package,” he said.
Weather and construction conditions permitting, both lanes of the bridge are expected to be open to traffic by the end of the year.
Construction of the Archer River crossing has been plagued by delays caused by “significant geotechnical challenges”, according to the former Labor government. Photo: Cape York Weekly.
