Lion Creek Bridge is the first new bridge completed on the $1.98 billion Rockhampton Ring Road, now open to traffic after more than 18 months of construction.
Spanning 61.1 metres, the bridge replaces a deteriorating timber crossing dating back to the 1800s and forms part of the project’s early works program.
The new structure features flood-resilient design and locally manufactured concrete deck units, aiming to maintain access to Pink Lily and Ridgelands during heavy rainfall and creek rise.
The bridge sits within a broader 18 kilometre highway realignment intended to divert through traffic west of Rockhampton, easing congestion and improving access to the city’s southern health and defence precincts.
Traffic volumes on the existing Bruce Highway route through Rockhampton can reach over 36,000 vehicles a day, including 3,000 heavy vehicles.
Construction also included upgrades to Canoona Road and the realignment of the Rockhampton–Ridgelands Road intersection, connecting the new bridge to local traffic networks. The next milestone is the imminent completion of a 204-metre bridge over Limestone Creek in Parkhurst, comprising 66 precast Super-T girders.
The Ring Road will ultimately include 18 new bridge structures – seven water crossings and eight road overpasses – with a key feature being a third Fitzroy River crossing. That 435-metre bridge will incorporate active transport infrastructure and improve flood access between Pink Lily and Kawana. The final scope includes 17.4 kilometres of new dual carriageway, including 14.7 kilometres of Ring Road alignment and three grade-separated interchanges.
Flood resilience was a central focus in the road’s design, with infrastructure built to withstand a 1-in-100-year event – modelled at 9.86 metres on the Rockhampton flood gauge. This includes elevated embankments, drainage upgrades and bridge designs engineered to maintain structural integrity and function under high-flow conditions.
The project is jointly funded by the Australian Government ($1.4 billion) and the Queensland Government ($580 million). Early works are scheduled for completion by mid-2025, with main construction works – currently paused – set to resume in July 2025, pending revised scope and procurement.
