Einasleigh River Bridge
Encyclopedia
The Einasleigh River Bridge is a road bridge over the Einasleigh River
on the Gulf Developmental Road
, in the Far North Queensland
, Australia
, located 53 kilometres east of Georgetown
and 36 km west of Mount Surprise. The bridge is part of the only sealed (asphalt
) road linking Cairns
and Normanton
in the Gulf Savannah
region.
The new high set bridge was constructed to flood-proof the Gulf Country
. It replaced an existing low level bridge which was designed for inundation. The old bridge was flooded in every wet season. In 2009 it was under water for 40 days after the biggest flood on record. During flooding of the old Einasleigh River Bridge, most communities across the Gulf Shires were inaccessible by road and the emergency supplies had to be provided by helicopter.
The bridge was built by the Etheridge Shire Council and was funded through the Federal Government
’s Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program. It was opened by the Minister for Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government
Simon Crean
on 20 January 2011.
Gilbert-Einasleigh River
The Gilbert-Einasleigh River is one of the largest river systems in northern Australia. It is located in north-central Queensland, between the Flinders River and the Mitchell River.-Description:...
on the Gulf Developmental Road
Gulf Developmental Road
The Gulf Developmental Road links the Cairns and Normanton regions in northern Queensland, Australia. It is the only sealed road linking these two regions....
, in the Far North Queensland
Far North Queensland
Far North Queensland, or FNQ, is the northernmost part of the Australian state of Queensland. The region, which contains a large section of the Tropical North Queensland area, stretches from the city of Cairns north to the Torres Strait...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, located 53 kilometres east of Georgetown
Georgetown, Queensland
Georgetown is a town on the Etheridge River in Far North Queensland, Australia. The Gulf Developmental Road passes through the town, linking Cairns - 412 km to the east - and Normanton - 301 km to the west...
and 36 km west of Mount Surprise. The bridge is part of the only sealed (asphalt
Asphalt
Asphalt or , also known as bitumen, is a sticky, black and highly viscous liquid or semi-solid that is present in most crude petroleums and in some natural deposits, it is a substance classed as a pitch...
) road linking Cairns
Cairns, Queensland
Cairns is a regional city in Far North Queensland, Australia, founded 1876. The city was named after William Wellington Cairns, then-current Governor of Queensland. It was formed to serve miners heading for the Hodgkinson River goldfield, but experienced a decline when an easier route was...
and Normanton
Normanton, Queensland
-External links:****...
in the Gulf Savannah
Gulf Country
The Gulf Country is the name given to the region of woodland and savanna grassland surrounding the Gulf of Carpentaria in north western Queensland and eastern Northern Territory on the north coast of Australia...
region.
The new high set bridge was constructed to flood-proof the Gulf Country
Gulf Country
The Gulf Country is the name given to the region of woodland and savanna grassland surrounding the Gulf of Carpentaria in north western Queensland and eastern Northern Territory on the north coast of Australia...
. It replaced an existing low level bridge which was designed for inundation. The old bridge was flooded in every wet season. In 2009 it was under water for 40 days after the biggest flood on record. During flooding of the old Einasleigh River Bridge, most communities across the Gulf Shires were inaccessible by road and the emergency supplies had to be provided by helicopter.
The bridge was built by the Etheridge Shire Council and was funded through the Federal Government
Government of Australia
The Commonwealth of Australia is a federal constitutional monarchy under a parliamentary democracy. The Commonwealth of Australia was formed in 1901 as a result of an agreement among six self-governing British colonies, which became the six states...
’s Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program. It was opened by the Minister for Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government
Minister for Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government
The Australian Minister for Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government is the Hon Simon Crean MP. The portfolio is part of the Prime Minister and Cabinet portfolio. Simon Crean is the first minister with this title...
Simon Crean
Simon Crean
Simon Findlay Crean is an Australian politician, and the current Minister for the Arts and Minister for Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government in the Australian Federal Government. He was leader of the Australian Labor Party and Leader of the Opposition at the Federal level,...
on 20 January 2011.