Rookwood Weir Project steps up a gear

Riverslea Bridge

On-the-ground works to support the $352 million Rookwood Weir project are now underway with the $7.5 million upgrade of Thirsty Creek Road.

Rockhampton Regional Council crews started work this week, after council was awarded the project.

The crews are undertaking drainage works to allow the widening of the road, to improve access into the weir site to accommodate higher traffic volumes, work crews and heavy equipment.

The Thirsty Creek Road works involve widening a 16.2 km section of the Thirsty Creek Road to 6.5 metres from the intersection of Riverslea Road to the Rookwood Weir site, applying a bitumen seal to some road segments and upgrading existing culverts.

Bids were also recently opened to build the Riverslea Bridge—a key component of the Rookwood Weir Project.

The tender package, available on QTenders, will be awarded and work started by March 2020 (subject to environmental approvals), with the bridge due to be completed before July 2021, weather permitting.

Once complete, the bridge will ensure local transport connections are maintained when Rookwood Weir starts operation.

It will comprise a single crossing, an 18-metre high concrete bridge structure to replace the existing crossing which, if not upgraded, would be inundated when the Rookwood Weir reaches full supply.

The works for the bridge also include constructing a single 3.5 metre road lane, connecting the approaches to the bridge with the existing road, including passing bays at both ends, and demolishing the existing culvert crossing.

In late December, the contract award for another key package of works – the Capricorn Highway intersection upgrade at Gogango – is due to be announced.

The Rookwood Weir Project will capture valuable water in the lower Fitzroy River, 66 km south-west of Rockhampton for use across the region. Find out more about the Rookwood Weir Project.