TWO crashes within two days at Wynnum’s notorious Pine Street Bridge have local politicians working together to look at further warning devices to improve safety.
State Member for Lytton Joan Pease said her office had been in touch with Queensland Rail and had also spoken to Wynnum Manly Councillor Alex Givney about finding appropriate traffic safety solutions.
“We need to all work together to find a solution that isn’t cost prohibitive and that actually works,” she said.
“There’s no doubt my Bayside community expect action on the Pine Street Bridge. “It causes mayhem on the Cleveland line every time it’s hit.
“This bridge has had more hits than the Beatles.
“However, drivers must take greater care, particularly around heights restrictions at all rail bridges which includes Pine, Berrima and Burke Street bridges.”
Cr Givney said she would write to the CEO of Queensland Rail to request an updated investigation into the Pine Street Bridge.
Brisbane City Council Leader of the Opposition Jared Cassidy said Council should be investigating tangible solutions instead of “playing the blame game against Queensland Rail”.
The two crashes follow an earlier crash on September 19 where the steel protection beam in front of the bridge prevented damage.
That protection failed to stop a truck carrying a backhoe colliding into the bridge last week.
The first of the two crashes occurred last Wednesday at 7.30am, causing significant impacts to rail passengers and disruption to peak hour traffic, with Pine St closed for two hours.
Footage of the incident shows the truck launch upwards due the force of the impact to the protection beam and bridge, forcing the backhoe to flip up, driving the digging bucket towards the bridge and sending debris flying.
Police said the driver was not injured, but the crash caused moderate damage to the truck and backhoe, with the truck towed.
A Queensland Rail spokeswoman said there was no major structural damage to the bridge, and the Cleveland line between Manly and Wynnum Central reopened at 9am.
The second crash occurred last Thursday at 5.15pm – police said the driver of the truck sustained minor injuries.
A QR spokeswoman said there was no damage to the bridge.
QR partnered with Police and the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator this week to conduct a high visibility operation at the Pine Street Bridge.
Cr Givney said Council officers recently reviewed the signage on the surrounding Council-controlled roads, and they confirmed that adequate warnings were in place, with seven signs installed.
