Townsville City Council is continuing to examine solutions to the deterioration of sections of the road connecting Nelly Bay and Picnic Bay on Magnetic Island.
Starting on 13 February 2023 and scheduled to take four weeks to complete (weather permitting), the assessment of the road pavement will include a geotechnical investigation, laboratory testing, assessment and engineering recommendations.
Mayor Jenny Hill said that the deterioration of the road pavement on sections of Nelly Bay Road and Birt Street is a longstanding issue, with Council working to find the causes and a solution.
“Council is using the expertise of contractors and its own technical team to resolve the issues with the pavement,” Cr Hill said.
“The examination of the road pavement at 10 different locations will include the surfacing, base material and sub-grade, so our team will investigate all layers to find the root causes.”
Chairperson of Council’s Infrastructure Services Committee Cr Kurt Rehbein said work has been done previously to find a solution, but the work starting on 13 February 2023 will examine underground issues and not just the surface.
“During previous assessments of the road’s condition, Council engineers examined possible geotechnical issues that may be causing the road’s deterioration, but no obvious signs of slope failures or ground movement were observed,” Cr Rehbein said.
“We’re determined to find a solution to the pavement deterioration problem, so we’ll increase the number of testing sites along the road if necessary.”
The road between Nelly Bay and Picnic Bay is a vital transport link on Magnetic Island, therefore the Council has made further examination a priority.
“It’s a major thoroughfare for island residents and tourists, so a single-lane partial closure will be implemented to avoid undue disruption,” Cr Rehbein said.
“The problems with the road connecting Nelly Bay and Picnic Bay have caused frustration for people who rely on this route.
“We appreciate the understanding of residents and tourists as we undertake further examination of the road pavement.”
To ensure safety for road users and pedestrians during the partial road closure, a traffic management plan and controls will be in place.
