Transportation and Traffic
Bribie Island Bridge
Having opened in October 1963, the Bribie Island Bridge was repaid in early 1975.
Despite all efforts to retain the toll, at midnight on Saturday, March 22, 1975, Bribie Island builder Stan Balmer bought the last 50 cent toll ticket from the Bribie bridge toll master Jack Greenlaugh. From midnight, cars were able to cross the bridge without charge. Work on removal of the toll office began the following Monday. (TNNCN, March 26, 1975).
Bribie Island Overpass
In March 1978, it was reported that tenders for the last major bridge link on the 4 lane highway from Brisbane to the Bribie Island turn-off would close on March 21. The pre-stressed concrete bridge would have 9 spans, 2 of them more than 23 metres long. Its total length would be almost 170 metres. Two of the piers would be in the waters of the river. Minister for Main Roads, Mr. Hinze, said it would cost about $760,000. (TNNCN, March 8, 1978).
By July 1978, the estimated cost of the overpass had risen drastically, with Mr. Hinze announcing it would cost $4,540,000. (TNNCN, July 5, 1978).
The overpass was officially opened in December 1978. (TNNCN, December 6, 1978).
Bribie Overpass P0368
December 1978
Photgraph courtesy of The Caboolture News
Opening of the Bribie Island overpass on December 6,1978
It was proposed to duplicate the 10 kilometre section of the highway from Bribie Island to Beerburrum Creek concurrently with the 2 lanes from Beerburrum Creek to the Caloundra turnoff on a new alignment. (TNNCN, December 20, 1978).
Bruce Highway: Bald HIlls to Burpengary
The final stage of the $20,000,000 Bald Hills to Burpengary Highway opened on November 10, 1977. The duplication of the Caboolture River Bridge was carried out at an estimated cost of $650,000 (TNNCN, November 16, 1977)
Burpengary overpass construction P1734
1976.
Photograph courtesy of John Oxley Library. (jol172.tif)
Construction of the new Morayfield Road overpass section of the Bruce highway at Burpengary.
The double highway Burpengary to Bribie Island was opened by Minister for Main Roads, Mr. Hinze, on August 9, 1979. (TNNCN, August 15, 1979).
General
Introduction of the “Give way to the right” rule in early 1970 apparently confused a majority of motorists (TCN, March 11, 1970).) (One can only wonder how it was decided prior to that, who had the right of way).
From January 1, 1972, all motorists in cars with seatbelts fitted had to wear them unless reversing or travelling from point to point at 15 miles per hour. (!) (TCN, January 5, 1972).
From July 1, 1974, motoring went metric, with motorists having to measure their speed in kilometers per hour and road signs all being metric (TNNCN, July 3, 1974). (It must have been a huge job and cost a great deal of money, to change all those road signs over!).
Narangba Train Crash
Though of course nowhere on the scale of the Granville Train Disaster in January 1977, the Narangba train crash in June 1970 was a major disaster locally.
A huge query hung over the rail smash where 2 local men lost their lives when the Maryborough Express ploughed into the rear of a stationary worker’s train at Narangba Railway Station at about 6.20 p.m. on Monday, June 8, 1970. There were claims by passengers that they were not warned to leave the train. A local passenger said that she and some fellow passengers got out of the coach to walk about when told their train had been held up with mechanical trouble. This was after 20 minutes of sitting in the train. They thought William David Mollenhauer was asleep. Mr. Mollenhauer, 58, of Caboolture, was in their carriage and was killed). It was also thought that William Leslie DeKnock, 57, of Beachmere, was in the second last coach. He was also killed. Mr. Mollenhauer died instantly. Mr. DeKnock died in Royal Brisbane Hospital. (TCN, June 10, 1970).
The President of the Queensland Country Fire Officers’ Association and Petrie Fire Chief, Mr. E.L. Hucksbody, said the accident stressed the lack of liaison between emergency services in Queensland. One emergency service only heard of the accident through the news media. (TCN, July 15, 1970).
Graham Coulson West, driver of the Maryborough Express was committed for trial in Caboolture Magistrate’s court on July 30, 1970. (TCN, August 5, 1970). (The outcome of the trial is not known).
Narangba Train Crash 9.6.70
9.6.70
Photograph courtesy of Dudley and Thelma Klee
The wreckage of the train in which 2 men died on June 9, 1970.