Seven new concrete bridges in the Bellingen Shire funded under the NSW Government’s Fixing Country Bridges program have opened to traffic.
Minister for Regional Transport and Roads, Sam Farraway said Bellingen Shire Council had received more than $27.3 million from the NSW Government to replace ageing timber bridges with new stronger, sturdier concrete ones.
“It is fantastic to be able to open the latest completed bridge in the Bellingen Shire – Taylors Bridge on North Bank Road – which received $710,000 from the NSW Government – and to see the tangible impacts these new bridges are having in keeping communities connected in Bellingen and beyond,” Mr Farraway said.
“We have rolled out funding for more than 500 bridges across NSW under our $500 million Fixing Country Bridges program.
“With the extreme weather our state has experienced over the last couple of years it is important when we build the infrastructure that matters to the community that it’s resilient and reliable.
“Some bridges that have been replaced under this program withstood recent floods and continued to provide safe access for communities; had they still been made of timber, they would likely have been badly damaged or destroyed.”
Bellingen Shire Council received more than $18.8 million under Round 1 of Fixing Country Bridges to replace 27 bridges.
Mayor, Stephen Allan said the new bridges had been designed to last more than 100 years.
“Not only are these bridges stronger and able to carry heavier freight loads, in some cases they are wider and higher. Overall, they will be more resilient and because they are built of newer materials, they will cost us less to maintain and allow Council to focus on other key infrastructure renewals,” Mayor Allan said.
“We have worked hard, supported by key local contractors Coastalworks (Coffs Harbour City Council) and Mid North Coast, and since the beginning of December have been able to open seven new bridges.”
They are Cobb O Corn Bridge on Reids Road; Diehappy Bridge on Darkwood Road, Darkwood; Richardsons Bridge on Darkwood Road, Bellingen; Taylors Bridge at Bellingen; Coopernook Creek Bridge on Coramba Road, Megan; Knights Bridge on Kalang Road, Kalang; and Cahlls Bridge on Nobles Lane, Bellingen.
