A TRUCK carrying a wind turbine part caused major delays over the weekend after crashing into an overpass it could not clear.
The crash, which occurred at 0140 last Friday (16 May), saw the Warrego Highway closed westbound at the Mount Crosby Bridge near Ipswich, west of Brisbane, until being reopened at 1800 last night (18 May).
The truck was carrying a wind turbine tower, lodging the part under the highway overpass, with the part reportedly being removed some 12 hours later.
According to media outlets, the Queensland Police Service (QPS) revealed in its initial investigation that the truck failed to follow pilot vehicles and escort vehicles up an off-ramp.
"The truck has continued westbound on the Warrego Highway and struck the bridge," a QPS spokesperson said.
Qube Holdings reportedly owned the vehicle transporting the part, with the port operator reportedly saying it was cooperating with authorities and the circumstances leading up to the incident were under investigation.
"Fortunately, no injuries were sustained and Qube was able to deploy specialist equipment to support the recovery effort," a spokesperson said.
The turbine is reported to have caused significant damage to the overpass and road, according to Queensland Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg.
The turbine was removed in small increments in order to enable engineers to assess the bridge structure. The part was removed by Qube Haulage, the company which had initially transported it.
The QPS has since launched an official investigation, while MP Mickleburg said the truck had a permit requiring it to leave the highway via a roundabout.
“The escort took that trip, but the truck did not,” the minister said on Saturday (17 May).
“There will be an investigation from the QPS and my department. Pending that investigation, we will take action as appropriate.
“We need to understand what happened here, and ensure it doesn’t happen in the future.”
Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said she had initially feared the overpass could be closed for “up to a year”, and that she was “grateful” regarding the reopening timeline.
Harding asked commuters to be patient over the next week while detours are in place.
The driver of the truck, a man said to be in his 50’s, was taken to hospital for assessment.
The Warrego highway extends from Brisbane to parts of Queensland’s west, connecting the capital with towns such as Toowoomba.