Wind Turbine Hub Lodges Under Bridge, Closes Key Highway in Queensland

Long delays in traffic have been predicted after a truck carrying a wind turbine part failed to clear a busy overpass.

Wind turbines dot the landscape at Pen y Cymoedd Wind Farm in Wales, the UK, on Aug. 1, 2024. Carl Court/Getty Images

A massive wind turbine hub remained wedged under the Mount Crosby Bridge over Queensland’s Warrego Highway in the Ipswich region hours after it first became lodged on the morning of May 16.

A truck carrying the large component—which connects the blades to the shaft—struck the bridge shortly after 1.30 a.m. according to the Queensland Police Service.

Efforts made to clear the section of the highway were still underway by 9.30 a.m.

“The westbound lanes of the Warrego Highway at North Tivoli are closed due to a truck striking the Mount Crosby Bridge,” a police spokesperson told The Epoch Times.

“Traffic is being diverted onto Mount Crosby Road exit.”

The Mount Crosby Bridge remained closed in both directions and was expected to be closed for an extended period of time.

Ipswich City Mayor Teresa Harding said Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg had informed her the western section of the highway could be closed for an entire day.

The overpass sustained significant damage in the event, according to Transport and Main Roads (TMR).

“TMR crews have mobilised and are on-site to undertake structural assessments to determine when the load can be extracted and the road re-opened,” a spokesperson said.

“The westbound lanes of the Warrego Highway and the Mt Crosby Road overpass will only be re-opened to traffic when it is safe to do so.

“The load was being carried under permit and TMR is currently reviewing the details of the permit.”

Motorists are being urged to avoid the area due to lengthy delays. Anyone needing to check traffic conditions can visit the QLDTraffic website or app, or call 13 19 40.

Wind Turbine Comes Crashing to the Ground

The highway incident follows a series of recent incidents involving larger-scale turbine components.

Earlier this year, Global Power Generation Australia set up an exclusion zone after rotor blades and a hub had fallen at a wind farm site.

Parent company Vestas said it was investigating the possibility of lightning strikes being to blame.

The incident followed a separate event in November last year, when a man died after being struck by a falling rotor blade.

While no one was injured and it was viewed as an isolated incident, the falling parts prompted Liberal MP Richard Riordan to call for more stringent safety regulations around wind turbines.

“It’s a huge issue, it’s going to be an ongoing issue,” he said.

On average, wind turbine hubs are constructed from cast iron and can weigh around 14 tonnes and vary in length depending on the structure.