SOMERSET Regional Council has slammed The Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) for delaying the reopening of a major highway bridge for more than 24 hours after floodwaters had receded.

Council Chief Executive Officer Andrew Johnson said Kilcoy Creek Bridge on the D’Aguilar Highway was inundated with slow-moving floodwaters at 9pm on Monday, 16 December, yet remained closed until 7.10am on Wednesday, 18 December—despite being cleared of water by 6.30am on Tuesday.

“This delay is unacceptable and has caused unnecessary disruption and risk to our community,” Mr Johnson said.

“Council crews cleared the minor debris by 8am Tuesday, yet TMR failed to complete an inspection in a timely manner.

“When an inspector arrived on Tuesday, they refused to reopen the bridge because of TMR’s risk adverse and strict testing regimes. This bureaucratic inflexibility and lack of urgency are unacceptable. Our community deserves better.”

Mr Johnson condemned TMR’s inaction, citing significant safety risks and financial costs.

“Leaving the bridge closed under traffic control and police guard for more than 24 hours is an outrageous waste of taxpayer dollars,” he said.

“TMR inaction places motorists and traffic control officers at unnecessary risk. The alternate route is not designed to handle heavy traffic or b-double vehicles, resulting in damage to road infrastructure and creating dangerous conditions for drivers.”

The CEO, who is also a Registered Professional Engineer of Queensland, called for an immediate review of DTMR’s policies and procedures for assessing bridges after flooding events.

“TMR’s rigid policy approach is putting the community at risk and causing undue hardship. This is not just a procedural issue—it is a failure to prioritise the safety and needs of our region.

With more rain forecast, Somerset cannot afford another 24-hour delay on a major highway. We demand that TMR urgently review their processes to ensure such delays do not occur again.”

Mr Johnson reaffirmed council’s commitment to the community.

“Our residents are angry, and rightfully so. This road is vital for our region, and we will not accept a repeat of this failure.

“TMR must take immediate action to address this issue and restore trust in their ability to manage critical infrastructure.”