Alice River Crossing
Before the first Alice River bridge was constructed on the Barcaldine-Blackall road, traffic used a crossing in the river bed. The Cobb & Co coach braved the crossing.
It was eventually topped with gravel but after every flood had to be replenished.
In 1924 Mr L J Anderson, agent for Singer Sewing Machines drove into the crossing when there was water only to become stuck in the river bed. [Apologies for the quality of the image – early newspapers did not always provide good quality scans]
First Alice River bridge 1926
In 1925 work had started on erecting a new low level bridge 100 yards or so west of the old crossing. It was noted at the time by the Capricornian newspaper that the bridge was to be 300 ft long and 9 ft high at its highest point. Work continued into 1926 with six men and a foreman fully employed, driving piles and constructing the bridge. It was opened in 1926.
It didn’t take long for the structure to come under pressure from flooding and heavy traffic using it, and for it to need repairs.
In 1950, the new bridge was swamped by a large flood, reportedly 20 ft above the decking of the bridge.
In 1955 the bridge started to become unsafe. A truck broke through the decking of the bridge, resulting in all traffic being diverted over a gravel crossing in the river bed (just like in the early days).
Regular inspections of the state of the bridge were undertaken finally revealing that large scale repairs were necessary if the bridge was to be in a fit condition for all traffic.
Second Alice River Bridge
The second Alice River bridge also had problems staying above water during flood events.
