The Queensland Government in Australia has called for construction tenders to upgrade Cape River Bridge, located south of Charters Towers.

Valued at A$34.6m ($25.6m), the upgrade works are expected to create nearly 35 employment opportunities in this region.

Queensland Minister for Main Roads and Road Safety Mark Bailey said: “We have made excellent progress on the planning and design of this vital flood immunity project.

"We’ll see significant reductions in road closures due to flooding when this project is complete."

“The tender for the supply of bridge piles was awarded to Rockhampton-based company Stresscrete earlier this month and we expect to award the construction contract early next year.”

Bailey said that the project would increase the height and width of the bridge and enhance a 2km section of the Gregory Developmental Road.

North Queensland Minister Coralee O’Rourke said: “We’ll see significant reductions in road closures due to flooding when this project is complete.

“This means improved year-round freight access to inland communities and the Townsville Port, as well as safer and better driving conditions for locals.

“This project is part of the Palaszczuk Government’s A $77m ($57.1m) investment in the Gregory Developmental Road over the next three years.

“In addition to the Cape River Bridge Upgrade, we will spend more than A $42m ($31.1m) to widen and strengthen 34km of remaining single lane and narrow two-lane sections north of Charters Towers.

“We are committed to improving the inland highway to ensure it is safe and dependable for local residents, the freight, mining and agricultural industries, and tourists.”

O’Rourke also explained that the Cape River Bridge upgrade would improve accessibility between Emerald and Charters Towers.

Construction on the Cape River Bridge is expected to begin in April 2017 and be completed by mid-2018, depending upon weather conditions.