GET WITH THE TIMES: Calls grow louder for Bushy Creek Bridge, road to be raised as Douglas Shire motorists face delays due to on/off again flooding
UPGRADES NEEDED
There is a growing push this afternoon to immediately campaign and lobby the State Government to raise, upgrade and floodproof both Bushy Creek Bridge and the two lanes of road that leads into it from both ends.
Many Douglas Shire motorists and others faced delays late last week and at different times at the weekend heading south towards Cairns, or north back to Douglas because of Bushy Creek Bridge being temporarily flooded and at times impassable due to heavy rain.
On the back of the heavy rainfall there were also, as usual, large puddles of water that stretched across the roadway which increased the chance of vehicles aquaplaning or losing traction in the vicinity of Bushy Creek Bridge.
Douglas Shire residents had no option but to access Bushy Creek via the inland road closed due to the ongoing closure of the Captain Cook Highway and the damage it experienced due to Ex Tropical Cyclone Jasper and the ensuing once-in-a-hundred year flood event that followed.
A range of motorists were affected by the ongoing, off again closure of Bushy Creek bridge near Julatten over the past few days including well known Douglas Shire shuttle company, Exemplar who were caught up in the delays while trying to do their regular daily services from Douglas to Cairns airport and back again.
“The closure of the road at Bushy Creek near Julatten again today continues to create havoc with our schedules,” the company told customers via social media on Saturday at 1.06pm.
“Until the road is declared open by TMR all our Port Douglas-Cairns-Port Douglas services are unable to run, including seat in coach and all private transfers.”
Any dedicated campaign to advocate the State Government for Bushy Creek Bridge upgrades would need to have the collective support of Cook MP Cynthia Lui, Mareeba Shire Council mayor Angela Toppin and this March’s newly appointed Douglas Shire Mayor.
There are also other stakeholders such as residents that live in close proximity to Bushy Creek, who would need to be consulted before any upgrades in the vicinity would become a reality.
Any major upgrades to the Bridge and road at Bushy Creek would cost in the millions of dollars.
It’s understood the last upgrades to Bushy Creek Bridge took place around 10 to 15 years ago, which included road sealing and guard rail improvements.
Newsport fully appreciates and respects the bridge and road is located in the Mareeba Shire, however its on and off again closures directly effect many people in the Douglas Shire, including shuttle drivers, people needing to travel south for appointments, and tourists choosing to spend their holidays in Port Douglas and its surrounds.
“I definitely fully appreciate the need to have a discussion around potential future upgrades or improvements to Bushy Creek Bridge and the road that passes on and near it,” noted Douglas Shire Deputy Mayor Lisa Scomazzon who was very respectful that the bridge falls within the jurisdiction of Mareeba Shire.
“Douglas Shire residents have been commuting through Bushy Creek on their trips to and from the Shire following the ongoing closure of the Captain Cook Highway over the past number of weeks.
“Any lobbying to improve Bushy Creek Bridge would be a joint effort between Mareeba Shire, Douglas Shire and the State Government.”
Newsport has sought comment from Cook MP Cynthia Lui, Mareeba Mayor Angela Toppin and TMR about the matter.
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