Wind turbine section wedged under bridge south-west of Brisbane after truck misses offramp and slams into overpass 

A major highway and bridge south-west of Brisbane remains closed after a truck carrying part of a wind turbine crashed into the overpass and became wedged underneath it.

A wind turbine has caused traffic chaos in Queensland after becoming wedged under a bridge on a major highway, which remains closed 12 hours after the incident.

Pictures: Facebook/David Martin

Police remain at the scene of the crash at North Tivoli south-west of Brisbane where a truck carrying a section of wind turbine got stuck into the Mount Crosby Bridge overpass about 1.40am on Friday morning.

The truck, which had been driving westbound on Warrego Highway, failed to follow a pilot and escorting vehicles onto an offramp before it struck the bridge, initial police investigations have shown.

A Transport and Main Roads spokesman said the bridge was damaged after the oversized vehicle carrying the large load became wedged beneath it.

The overpass and westbound lanes of highway remain closed 12 hours after the crash, and motorists have been urged to expect lengthy delays.

Diversions are in place via the on and off ramps and road users have been encouraged to find an alternative route.

“The Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) crews have mobilised, and are on site to undertake structural assessments to determine when the load can be extracted and the road reopened,” the department spokesman 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.”

The driver of the truck is a man aged in his 50s who was taken to Ipswich Hospital to be assessed, a Queensland Police statement said.

Police investigations into the incident are ongoing.

Ipswich mayor says residents fear Qld highway overpass could remain closed for 12 months following wind turbine crash

Matt Hampson – May 17, 2025 – skynews.com.au

A southeast Queensland mayor has said there are concerns a major highway overpass could be closed for at least a year after a piece of wind turbine slammed into and damaged the bridge.

The shock crash has caused traffic chaos for Ipswich area residents, with westbound lanes of Warrego Highway and the Mount Crosby Bridge overpass at North Tivoli remaining closed more than a day after the incident.

The bridge was damaged after a truck carrying a section of wind turbine got stuck under the overpass about 1.40am on Friday morning.

Ipswich City Council Mayor Teresa Harding said residents are now concerned the bridge could remain closed for at least 12 months, The Courier Mail has reported.

The Mayor said the incident is having “major impacts” on local residents’ travel times, according to the masthead.

“On the north side of the Warrego Tivoli to Karalee, all those residents. This will probably add 20 to 30 minutes each way to their trip,” Ms Harding said.

Initial police investigations have indicated the truck had been driving westbound on the highway and failed to follow a pilot and escorting vehicles onto an off-ramp before it struck the bridge, a Queensland Police spokesperson said on Friday.

A Transport and Main Roads spokesman said the bridge was damaged after the oversized vehicle carrying the large load became wedged beneath it.

“The Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) crews have mobilised, and are on site to undertake structural assessments to determine when the load can be extracted and the road reopened,” the department spokesman said.

Police said the driver of the truck involved is a man aged in his 50s who was taken to Ipswich Hospital to be assessed following the crash.

Transport and Main Roads Queensland reported on Saturday morning that the turbine tower involved in the crash was successfully removed from beneath the bridge overnight.

“The removal was carried out with extreme care in small, controlled steps, allowing structural engineers to continuously assess the overpass condition,” a post on the department’s Facebook page said.

“Our crews are continuing to inspect the structure before beginning debris removal and further safety works today.”

Westbound lanes of the highway remain closed, and motorists should expect ongoing delays, the post said.

Mayor Harding shared a video on social media of her visiting the site on Saturday morning, and she said her “main concern” was the question of how the route can be reopened.

“The Warrego Highway and this overpass here is a state-controlled road and it’s funded by the federal and state government, so the engineers will need time to assess the situation,” Ms Harding said.