Construction of the new Wallendbeen Bridge in southern New South Wales has been completed, with work about to begin on building the road approaches, before the bridge can open to traffic.
Transport for NSW Regional Director South Cassandra Ffrench said work would start in coming weeks to prepare the site for the final stage of work.
“We will be setting up the work site, erecting new boundary fencing and removing vegetation,” Ffrench said.
“The new bridge was built parallel to the temporary bridge about 20 metres southwest of the original bridge alignment and is three metres higher to allow for the future double stacking of containers on trains.
“For this reason, the road approaches must be raised to meet the increased height of the new bridge.
“The final stage of work will include upgrades to Silo, Morrisons Hill, North Jindalee and Cemetery roads.”
The new bridge will return a two-lane crossing for motorists, with the aim of improving safety and travel times on this important freight corridor.
“We thank the community for its ongoing patience and understanding as we complete this vital work,” Ffrench said.
Member for Cootamundra Steph Cook welcomed the news of these upcoming works but said there’s still a long way to go. “While we still have some way to go yet, it’s a welcome step forward for the Wallendbeen community and all road users who rely on this vital freight and transport corridor,” she said.
“I have shared and raised the community’s concerns regarding the temporary bridge consistently – whether that be the impact of the bridge closure, safety risks and access challenges.
“I’ve also been calling for a new Wallendbeen bridge to be constructed from the moment the original bridge failed in early 2021.
“While it’s taken far too long, I’m relieved to see the road approaches are now the focus.
“As the new bridge has been built to a higher elevation to accommodate future freight needs, raising the road approaches is a critical part of the final stage.”
Early work is expected to start on Monday March 31 followed by major work in May.
During this time, the speed limit on North Jindalee and Morrison Hill roads will be reduced to 40 km/h within the work site, with delays of up to 10 minutes expected during work hours.
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