Mystery of Walker's Crossing Bridge
Submitted: Saturday, Sep 26, 2015 at 17:09
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Allan B (Member, SunCoast)
I came through Walker's Crossing a couple of weeks ago and found the
bridge closed and barricaded. The barricade and signs appeared to have been in place for some time.
But what surprised me was the absence of any guard rails on the approach ramps. The construction looked unfinished and the
bridge appeared to have never been used.
However, I found the August 2014 photo below on EO and there are clearly Armco guardrails in place! Whatever happened to these rails? There was not even any evidence on the earthen ramps that they had ever been in place. Can anyone throw light on this mystery, other than I am maybe losing my marbles?
Walker's Crossing Bridge
Reply By: Les - PK Ranger - Saturday, Sep 26, 2015 at 17:34
Saturday, Sep 26, 2015 at 17:34
That pics looks just like it did when we passed it April 2014 . . . and sounds like someone might have now nicked the guard rails hey ??
Maybe they were needed elsewhere too and handy for the local road crews to grab.
I wonder if they plan to only open it if / when the creek floods ?
But I can see why they wouldn't have it open anyway, since it was built.
We did a u turn heading to Inna and parked on it in the shade and had a spot of lunch.
We'd left
Birdsville Anzac Day service that morn.
Will
check it out again in about 4 weeks, driving the other way Inna to
Warburton, then a Rig Rd crossing, I'll see if Inna Hotel knows about it unless you find out sooner.
AnswerID:
590764
Reply By: Sand Man (SA) - Saturday, Sep 26, 2015 at 19:26
Saturday, Sep 26, 2015 at 19:26
The chances are they were washed away and subsequently removed following a flood.
I have experienced first hand what flood waters can do. Anything from lifting and floating away bitumen sections, to driving into the Alice from the north, following the center dashed line which was several centimetres under water, to a flooded
Todd River that lapped at the curbing of the Motel we were staying at in
Alice Springs waiting for word that the road
home was open.
Couldn't head south to
Adelaide as the Stuart Highway was closed for three days, due to the inundation of water and silt build up at the Hugh, Palmer and
Finke river crossings.
These have now been upgraded with the addition of bridges, but still no guarantee as to their lifespan.
It is amazing what Mother Nature can dish up at times and one just has to accept delays as "par for the course" and just wonder at the awe of her power from time to time when traveling through our great outdoors.
AnswerID:
590766
Follow Up By: Allan B (Member, SunCoast) - Saturday, Sep 26, 2015 at 20:16
Saturday, Sep 26, 2015 at 20:16
Yes, could be that they were washed away Bill, together with the earthen ramps as there is no evidence of footings for guardrail posts. Now awaiting funding for repair?
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