Gateway Bridges protected against out-of-control ship collisions

Media Release

Minister for Main Roads

The Honourable Craig Wallace

18/04/2010

Gateway Bridges protected against ship collisions

Construction engineers have confirmed that even an out-of-control cruise ship poses no threat to Gateway motorists, with new and improved collision prevention.

Concerns were raised after an incident last week when the Pacific Dawn suffered a total power loss while travelling down the Brisbane River on Saturday morning (10 April) towards the Gateway Bridges.

Main Roads Minister Craig Wallace said the Gateway Bridges were in no danger of being hit by the ship with carefully planned protection in place for the bridge piers.

"Queensland's new Gateway Bridge is the best money that can buy. Our designers have mapped endless scenarios, including a runaway 70,000 tonne cruise ship," Mr Wallace said.

"As part of the design for the new Gateway Bridge, pier protection panels and arrester islands are also being built. When complete, 80,000 cubic metres of rock will have been distributed around the piers of the new and existing Gateway bridges just below the low tide mark to form the ship arrester islands.

"Below the surface, arrestor islands work by providing a physical protective barrier designed to stop even the largest vessels from coming anywhere near the bridge piers.

"Pier protection was incorporated into the construction of the original Gateway Bridge and further work is underway to build on this protection to accommodate the latest in ship size and design."

Mr Wallace said in the unlikely event that any smaller vessels breach the arrester island protection, specially formed concrete panels which surround the bases of both the new and existing Gateway Bridge would absorb any impact and protect the piers.

"Construction of the arrester islands around the new Gateway Bridge and enhancement of the arrester islands around the existing Gateway Bridge is scheduled to be completed by the end of August," he said.

The new Gateway Bridge will open to traffic in late May, initially with four southbound lanes to allow approach roadworks to be completed. All six southbound lanes on the new bridge will be open by August.

"A community open day will be held on Sunday 16 May, to give Queenslanders the chance to walk over the new bridge one week before it is opened to traffic," Mr Wallace said.