Cambroon Bridge

[astroron]

Here are a couple of many reasons why the Cambroon Bridge is condemned.
This shows what little maintenance has been done in the past:shrug:
and we have all been driving over it:mad2:
It is hoped to be open for light vehicle traffic in about three weeks:)
Ron

[Ric]

That definitely looks in bad need of an upgrade, I don't think it would survive a flash flood.

We had one done this way and the local govt closed it for about 9 months while they made up their minds as to what to do but the poor beggars on the wrong side were driving up to a 90km round trip just to get to work.

Hope your not in the same position.

[astroron]

Ric We only have to drive 40kms round trip with the bridge out, which is bad enough:mad2: but 90kms would would drive me extra :mad2::mad2:
:thumbsup:
Ron

[Ric]

The council should probably build a new concrete one which would be cheaper in the long run than all the continued maintenance.

Cheers

[Dennis]

Hey Ron,

Are you the now the King of the new Sovereign State of Cambroon, given that you have been cut off from the mainland! LOL!

Cheers

Dennis

[astroron]

There is a meeting tomorrow morning with the local area councilor and three engineers with the people of Cambroon at 09:00 down at the bridge,:) but it may be not well attended as people have to go to work, but as I said to a couple of people who said they might not come , if you don't turn up then don't expect anything to happen;)
We need as many people as possible to attend:thumbsup:
Ron

[[1ponders]]

I'll try to get there Ron. Send me an email to remind me.

[AstralTraveller]

Obviously the timbers have rotted. It looks like there may be a second problem. Have the piers migrated downstream over time? I've seen this before. If the piers are just sitting in the stream sediment they slowly move downstream as the sediment moves. You bridge will develop a curve because the middle moves while the ends stay fixed. It can look real spectacular - from the safety of the bank.

[astroron]

You may be right, but it also doesn't help much when you have had logs weighing upto 3 tons and rubbish backed by millions of gallons of water pushing against it.
In 2002 water was over 3mts over the bridge.
Ron

[AstralTraveller]

Yep, the curve is pretty obvious. They didn't build it that way.

[AlexN]

heh... after seeing that im glad i had to drive the extra 25kms to get to your place...
Bugger driving over that !!!

Hope they get it all sorted out for ya soon Ron.

Alex.

[astroron]

We had a meeting with the local councilor and senior engineer on Thursday attended by about 30-40 locals.:)
After much discussion and explanation of of the situation,the engineer said that the bridge will be open to light traffic, that is vehicles upto 2.5-3 ton in about four weeks,It will take that long to get the material and do the repairs.
It will then be upto the council in June when the engineers present their report to council as to what the final outcome,either build a new bridge or some other alternative not yet decided upon:shrug:
The next Cambroon observing Night is Saturday the 3rd of May:astron::stargaze:so you will still have to come the long way round if you are coming from the Kenilworth direction.
There is no difference if coming from Brisbane:thumbsup:
Ron

[AlexN]

just so you know... I'll be there with bells on! probably stay the night this time.

[astroron]

It will be good to catch up with you again:thumbsup:
Ron

[GrahamL]

Looks like a few of the bridges round here Ron.. maybe a little better
than some .... A friend was parked at a red light a couple of weeks back at a repair ..the backhoe crossing the bridge in front of him went straight through.. the only thing that saved him was the raised front bucket snagged a cross beam as it went down .

Has the local govt made redundant the bridge crews in your area ?
Its quite a specialty work area .. A few local guys here that work within it are flat out all the time
Talking to one of them a while back he wasn't sure what the long term plans were ..as they hadn't been takeing on new apprentices for a few years ..Its like the bean counters can see a big cost saving in regard ..but don't fathom
what a vital service a bridge means to a comunity .

good luck

[astroron]

The engineer said that the council only provides $1.5 million per year for bridge repair/maintainance and with our bridge costing an estimated $2.5million,and with 17 other wooden bridges in need of replacement/repair, the money just wont stretch that far, so we will have to see what the decision will be in June.
Ron

[GrahamL]

They say the same down here regarding basic infastructure spending
hopefully theres some dollars around budget time to replace it Ron
I wouldn't count on it though improving traffic flow in the metro areas
probably swallows a couple of million an hour.

little dated but some pretty fair comments
http://www.australianreview.net/digest/2005/06/prasser.html

[CoombellKid]

Richmond Valley Council have a unique way of cost cutting that I really think
will end up with them being sued.

The first bridge coming into Coombell, it's only a small bridge, probably only
10' across. But when it was replace they lowered it in height. Now the
bridge goes under before the creek can breach it's banks. It causes water
to back then over the top it goes. Breaches into paddocks up stream and
now risks endangering live stock. We were trapped in Coombell twice over
Xmas. Actually you can tell they lowered it by the fact now you dip down
as you drive over it, before I never used to know the bridge was there
until they replaced it to how it is now. The council refuse to admit they
lowered it saying they keep it at the height it was before, where clearly
it is not. The road way should have a 3tn limit, but no apparrently the
cattle mob that moved the cattle into the plantation (you know the
corporation type farmer) they lobbied the council to remove the limit
now we have cattle semi-trailers coming up an down it which has damaged
the road to the point in some place you cant see the original road it's
just a bunch of patches.

Another case and worst IMO. Is the bridge on the southern end of Rappville
heading out to Wyan. They replaced it last year doing the same thing. The
bridge along with the road leading to and from it cuts through a friends
property. He used to be able to ride his horse under it's. He can barely
stand under it himself now. Still the council say's it was built to the previous height.
But here to we all notice the dip. Even one of the workers told my friend
they had to grade the road down to meet the bridge. Btw, the previous
bridge was easily in a similar condition to Ron's. When it flooded over
last Xmas the bridge now works like a dam. Completely wiping out the up
stream side of my friends property. Actually it back up so much the Pub,
sawmill and several houses on the northern end of Rappville nearly went
under water. Yet the Council again will hear none of it, stating the bridge
was rebuilt to the previous specs. Which clearly it's not, it forced the
closure for several days of a $40 million sawmill operation in Wyan. Becuase
logging trucks could no longer get through. These bridges act like dams
now in floods closing roads longer.

So landowners in the Richmond Valley Council area. Expect your rates to
skyrocket in years to come as the Council maybe be forced by litigation
to payout landowners and businesses for damages to they properties or
profits due to their inapropriate works and what we see as cost cutting.
Especially when you see the new $3.5 million council building, all the roads
that are being fixed in Casino. But nothing for the rate payers out here
and they are getting up in arms about it.

regards,CS

[astroron]

:hi:Rob, thanks for a very interesting post:) most of the things you mention are repeated here 1e, Damming, erosion,
and not wanting to spend any money.
The bridge was originaly a 60Ton bridge, then it was reduced to 10Ton but as you can see in the photo's very little maintainance was done and that is why we are in the present situation:(
One of the things that is different is that IF they rebuild they want to raise it 2mts:eyepop:., it rearly wont make much difference as all the local creeks crossings go underwater so we can't get out anyway:P
The ;last council spent $14000,000 on a development at Kings Beach Caloundra,with $4,000,000 on a swimming pool, when there was already one there :mad2:
Ron

[AlexN]

Gees that would have to make you feel like the council just doesn't give a damn. And isn't it rude, recreation at a tourist destination seems more important than proper infrastructure for people living in rural areas.

Speaks a lot about what the council cares about.:screwy:

Alex

[astroron]

The Council engineers have started preparing the bridge for repairs:)
It looks like they are going to reinforce it with steel girders:eyepop:
As long as we don't get a lot of rain, it should be finished in three weeks:thumbsup:
Ron

[[1ponders]]

Damn, (not Dam :P ) that means I'll still have to go the long way round :(

[AlexN]

Thats great news!
I bet you'd be glad to see the reinforcing being done!


Paul - Just don't work you're bum off all day beforehand! Would be good to see you set your gear up, rather than leaving it in the car :D

[[1ponders]]

I'll try not to Alex :lol:

[h0ughy]

next meeting tell the council to make an application for Roads to Recovery Funding (AUSLINK federally funded programme)

http://www.auslink.gov.au/funding/r2r/r2r_funding_conditions.aspx

I am sure they would qualify - actually ring them up and suggest it then send in a letter. they cant ignore you then

[davewaldo]

I'm glad they're not just ignoring it Ron, sounds like you should have your bridge back (for cars at least) relatively soon.

I like your idea Houghy... sounds promising!

[astroron]

Thanks Dave :thumbsup:because we are only a side road and there is another way in and out (even though it is a another 20kms round trip) I am not sure the Feds would come to the party.
Also I think if the council thought it could get the funds from somewhere else instead of spending it's own money, they would jump at the chance.:)
I will forward your link to the local member who is very proactive on our behalf.
Thanks again.:thumbsup:
Ron

[astroron]

The repair work is coming along quite well,it will be OK as long a sit does'nt rain .:)
The kink will still be there:lol::lol::lol:
Ron

[[1ponders]]

Will it be ready by Saturday :prey:

[Ric]

Looking good Ron. :thumbsup:

The kink will probably add a bit of character to the bridge so long as it doesn't develop into a sharp left hand turn. :whistle:

Cheers

[astroron]

Pray all you like :prey::prey::prey:Paul, but I don't think it will help somehow:lol::lol::lol:
Ron

[[1ponders]]

:sad:

[astroron]

Ric thats one of the reasons why the people round here want to keep it:)as except for the dark sky's and the scenary there there is nothing else here.
I think the council would have prefared for it to be gone a long time ago.:(
Ron

[AstralTraveller]

Be careful! A left hand turn is also a right hand turn. I just depends where you are coming from. :P

[AlexN]

Too true AstralTraveller.

Ron, Shame to hear it wont be open... No dramas though.. few extra k's on a long run will be good for the car :) Not exactly the case for you and other residents of the area whom use the bridge as a means of getting around, but for us day trippers, whats 25kms extra on 130kms...

[astroron]

Alex the distance from the Conondale end is the same as the road runs parralel to the main road:thumbsup:
Ron

[Gargoyle_Steve]

Great pics Ron, especially the second one. There's a Ford Courier on the bridge, towing a trailer in fact, and you can bet Council guys can't drive across it if it ain't safe to do so!

I'll be right to cross Saturday, I'll just show them the photo and then point out that my Courier doesn't even HAVE the trailer behind, therefore I'll be safe as houses!

;)

[astroron]

The Cambroon bridge is now open,but only for vehicles of 2.5 tons and 2.6mt tall
so basically for cars only, not even ambulances or fire brigade:screwy:
Steve (Gargoyle )was the first iceinspacer to cross it:)
Last photo's of the repairs:thumbsup:
Ron

[Ric]

Good stuff Ron, I like the "No Overtaking" sign. :lol:

Cheers

[astroron]

Ric, All single lane bridges in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland have that sign:screwy:
Ron

[Ric]

I suppose there will always be some nutter that would try too.:P

I've seen some weird things by car drivers in my time with the RFS.:eyepop:

Cheers

[[1ponders]]

Yahhhhh!!!! :cool:

[GTB_an_Owl]

love that curve in the middle (or there abouts)

geoff

[AlexN]

good to see you wont be needing a motorbike Ron!

[jjjnettie]

Yahoo!

[Gargoyle_Steve]

I hate to report this but I did NOT cross the bridge on my way home this morning (Ron and I decided to sneak in an "inpromptu" observing session last night ;)) .... anyway when I left this morning I had to head north Via Kenilworth and make my way to the Maroochy Airport...

Sadly when I got to the bridge the 2 big "Road CLOSED" signs on Ron's side were very much still in evidence, and 2 large works trucks were parked on the approach. So I drove the 20 kilometre detour around the long way and back again, passing the bridge on the western side I had a look and sure enough the Bridge Closed sign was still in evidence there too.
:mad2:

Maybe it's like opening a new retail store and they are having a "soft" opening first, they sure aren't advertising it if it IS supposed ot be open after all.


BTW - GREAT observing session last night!
:thumbsup:

[GTB_an_Owl]

was that because your toe's were warm Steve ? :whistle:

geoff

[astroron]

I am sorry about that Steve:(,IT IS definatly open now:)
O well it looks like I will be the first iceinspacer to drive across it afterall:rofl::rofl:
Ron

[Gargoyle_Steve]

As it should be too Ron ;)
(Look at it this way, I'll be the LAST IIS'er to NOT drive over the bridge instead.)

It was no drama anyway, I ended up getting to the airport at 11:18 and Joy's flight was due in at 11:20, but arrived nearly 30 minutes late in the end so I had time to spare.

And YES Geoff, my toes WERE warm in my brand new freezer boots, it was a great test for them at 6.4° and the grass heavy with dew. How on earth could you have possibly known??
:lol:

[GTB_an_Owl]

the OWL knows ALL

geoff

[drmorbius]

Hey Steve... A bit off-topic, but you mentioned the observing session first... ;)

How does Don like his new scope?

[Gargoyle_Steve]

He loves it Randall, but sadly he over did it the first 2 nights he had it at home here, so the osteo-arthritis in his hip was playing up badly again, and as a result he was too sore to come out to Ron's Thursday night after all!

I'll post a bit of an observing report for you elsewhere rather than take this thread off topic.