Work crews move into the Nambucca Valley this week to tear down the first of six ageing timber bridges, kicking off a major NSW Government program to make the region’s crossings stronger, higher and ready for the next big flood.
The Way Way Bridge replacement is the first project under the Betterment Bridges Program, and construction of the new bridge begins on Wednesday, 15 July. Way Way Creek Road will be closed for about five weeks while the work is carried out.
The closure is expected to cause very minimal disruption. The site sits at the edge of the state forest, no resident access is affected, and access through the work site will be kept open for emergency vehicles.
The program will replace the valley’s old timber bridges with modern concrete structures and lift the bridge levels to improve flood resilience. That means shorter road closures during floods and more reliable access for the communities on either side. The existing timber bridges are nearing the end of their service life, and the heavy maintenance they demand is becoming increasingly unsustainable.
“The Betterment Bridges Program is about building infrastructure that meets the needs of our communities both now and into the future,” said Nambucca Valley Council Acting General Manager David Moloney.
“Replacing these ageing timber bridges with stronger, higher and more resilient structures will help restore quicker access during and after severe weather events, while reducing ongoing maintenance demands.”
The six bridges to be replaced are Way Way Bridge on Way Way Creek Road at Way Way, Roberts Bridge on Naylors Lane at Upper Taylors Arm, Sullivans Bridge on Sullivans Road at Valla, Browns Crossing No. 1 on Browns Crossing Road at Warrell Creek, Cassidys Bridge on Wirrimbi Road at Newee Creek, and Little Motley Bridge on Rodeo Drive at Bowraville.
Work on both Roberts Bridge and Sullivans Bridge is expected to begin on Thursday, 23 July. Sullivans Road at Sullivans Bridge will be closed to all traffic for about 10 weeks while the new bridge is built.
Dates for the remaining three bridges are yet to be confirmed.
“We look forward to seeing the benefits realised across all six bridge locations,” Mr Moloney said.
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