Western Downs Regional Council area is now more resilient to flooding thanks to the upgrade of its Mercy Pedestrian Bridge over Myall Creek, off Jimbour Street in Dalby, Queensland. The original timber structure was significantly damaged during flooding in 2013 and has been replaced with a Wagners Composite Fibre Technologies (CFT) Fibre Reinforced Polymer (FRP) structure.
This project was Wagners CFT’s first long span pedestrian bridge achieving 24-metres in a single span from one end to the other. The bridge is a vital connection across Myall Creek which effectively splits the township of Dalby in half; and provides essential access to services like school for the students of Dalby State High School.
Fibre Reinforced Polymer (FRP) is the superior material choice for this application as it is:
- Durable and robust – with a 100-year design life
- Chemically inert – so will not rust, rot or corrode
- Non-leaching – so safe for use around natural water systems
- Resistant to termites and acid sulfate soils
- Cost effective returning significant savings on ongoing maintenance and replacement over its serviceable lifetime
