The John Muntz Causeway opened one of its lanes to traffic on Friday afternoon after 28 cubic meters of concrete were pumped into the structure to shore up the road surface.
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| The closed causeway over the Coomera River. PHOTO/ Cheree Ray |
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The flood swollen Coomera River had banked up against the causeway and overtopped it.
The causeway was immediately closed.
The real damage was done by the waters which rushed through the culvert’s pipes at speeds in excess of 8 meters per second.
They scoured out a void between the road way and the culvert, causing the roadway to tilt and then slump dangerously.
Margaret Keech MP, Member for Albert, called on the Minister for Main Roads to allocate funds for a new bridge to be built as quickly as possible to replace the closed John Muntz Causeway.
Mrs Keech said, “The John Muntz Causeway has suffered significant structural damage as a result of the recent severe flooding which has caused its closure since January 26.”
“The closure of the causeway is causing serious disruptions to residents and businesses in the area.”
While engineers at the Department of Transport and Main Roads sorted out a rescue plan for the John Muntz Causeway, confusion reigned as tourists looking to visit Tamborine Mountain found the most popular route up the mountain was barricaded.
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Dale Whitnall with the CCTV camera about to be installed to monitor traffic on the John Muntz Causeway |
For many days there were no signs indicating alternative routes up to Tamborine Mountain and so casual tourists simply turned around. Many called into the Service Station at Oxenford seeking directions.
There was no signage at the barricades indicating how to get to Tamborine Mountain and many international and local tourists simply were so confused they went elsewhere according to Detlef Hasenbein from Discover Tamborine Mountain.
Local businesses reported horrific trading conditions after the closure of the Causeway.
Around 14,000 cars use the John Muntz Causeway each day, some travelling to the dormitory foothill suburbs but many also drive up to the tourist areas of the Tamborine Mountain Plateau.
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| Brett Pevats, Paul Reynolds, Harry Whitte & Jake Lawson from Upper Coomera ask that pedestrians be considered in any new plans. |
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Tamborine Mountain retailers and restaurateurs rely on the casual day-tripper market for much of their sales, particularly Gallery Walk traders.
Adam Rhodes from Eagle Heights Resort Hotel reported that their sales had plummeted by 75% during the week and over the weekend.
“Where we normally sell 150 meals, today it was just 22,” said Mr Rhodes."
“We are large business and have some resources to deal with situations like this. I just feel sorry for the small traders in Gallery Walk who have been so badly hit over the past year or so. It must be very hard for them.”
After many mountain businesses voiced their concerns about the lack of signage for people exiting the freeway and wanting to come up to Tamborine Mountain, the “Department of Main Roads” circulated an email assuring everyone that: A number of signs are in place at Oxenford directing motorists via Reserve Road if travelling to Mount Tamborine.
Mr Hasenbein said, “People would arrive at the closed flood-way and ask the one worker guarding the entrance to the causeway “Where is Reserve Road?
If they are extremely unlucky they get the man I talked with whose answer was:
- “There are 4 different ways of getting to Tamborine Mountain - we can’t tell you which one to use. That is up to you”
- “Don’t you have a map?”
- “Don’t you have a GPS?”
- “There were 4 signs on your way down here, you should have stopped and turned around earlier”
Member for Albert, Mrs Keech said she understands the frustration of motorists with the causeway still closed and the significant inconvenience it is causing residents and businesses. She asked residents to be patient as the repairs are completed.
Minister for Main Roads, Fisheries and Marine Infrastructure, The Honourable Craig Wallace said in a Media Release, “This is a vital link used by 14,000 people each day and I’ve asked the department to start work on a permanent solution immediately following the latest flooding event.”
“They’ll carry out a full site investigation and planning to identify a viable option for a bridge.The repairs carried out after last summer’s floods have held up but structural assessments carried out last week show major damage was done to other parts of the causeway following the recent heavy rain and flooding of the Coomera River."
“This time the floodwaters got in between the culvert and concrete flood-way, creating a large void in the causeway embankment. Given the latest damage, it’s no longer viable to permanently repair the causeway, so I’ve asked that preparation begin straight away on a long term river solution."
“We recently finished a $13.7 million project to replace two bridges on Tamborine-Oxenford Road, raising the road 2.4 metres above the old causeway at Tamborine Creek and by 4 metres at Wongawallan Creek.”
Urgent repair works were successfully carried out to allow one lane to be open last Friday. Local Tamborine Mountain businesses recorded an immediate pick-up in business as tourists were once again able to use the most popular route to the Tamborine plateau.
A spokesperson for the Department of Transport and Main Roads said, “Traffic signals are now in place to manage traffic flow and the State Government advice that adherence to these traffic signals is enforceable by law.
“Closed circuit television is in place to provide instantaneous monitoring of the traffic arrangements and to monitor driver behaviour. The speed limit will be reduced to 40km/h and so motorists should expect delays and plan accordingly."
" Temporary safety repairs will continue to ensure the causeway remains safe for motorists. Given the extent of the latest damage it is no longer viable to permanently repair the causeway. As a result planning to replace the existing causeway with a bridge has been fast-tracked."
“Investigations to find the best solution for an alternative crossing will look at the flood history of the Coomera River, geotechnical investigations of the riverbed and modelling for the future road network in the area. More information will be provided on the replacement bridge as it becomes available."
"The community of Tamborine Mountain is dependent on tourism and most come by car and most come through Oxenford,” said Mr Hasenbein. “The rapid downturn in tourist number and loss of sales for our tourism sector during the Causeway closure, shows this is a serious problem and needs to be fixed.”
Several teenage boys have one further idea for consideration by the Government.
They told our reporter how dangerous it was to walk or skateboard across the current causeway. The John Muntz Causeway is not really designed for pedestrian traffic.
They asked that any new solution not only is safe for cars, that it has a decent footpath so they can cross the Coomera River safely. Sounds like an excellent idea – thanks guys.