Register to join new Batemans Bay Bridge celebration
19 March 2021
The new Batemans Bay Bridge is set to open to traffic for the Easter break, months ahead of schedule.
Member for Bega, Andrew Constance today announced that members of the community would have a chance to take part in a very special celebration of this milestone next week.
“This bridge is for the community and the community needed to be a part of this occasion,” Mr Constance said.
“To mark this historic event, members of the community can register to walk across the bridge on Saturday 27 March ahead of the opening to traffic,” Mr Constance said.
Traffic will move onto two lanes of the new Batemans Bay Bridge in coming weeks after more than 700,000 hours of work across the project with the community bridge walk to celebrate the occasion.
“In line with current COVID-19 Public Health Orders for outdoor gatherings, all participants must pre-register and receive a ticket to take part in the community walk but we’re excited that the community will join us in celebrating the new bridge before it opens to traffic,” said Mr Constance.
“For those unable to attend the event on 27 March, the event will be live streamed on the NSW Roads Facebook page.”
Mr Constance said interested community members could register to attend one of the bridge walks via Eventbrite with more details to be released closer to the date.
“The public will also have access to the new three metre wide shared path in the days following the opening, where they can enjoy walking or cycling across the new structure as work continues to fully complete the project,” Mr Constance said.
“As well, the opening of the new bridge signals the start of work to remove the existing 65 year old bridge, which will improve the amenity of the foreshore and provide uninterrupted access for river users.”
The opening formalities will start at 8am with a ribbon cutting and smoking ceremony on the southern end of the bridge.
This will be followed by a procession of emergency services vehicles over the new bridge before it is opened up for the community bridge walks from around 9am.
Event parking will only be available at Corrigans Beach reserve and Batemans Bay Public School, where shuttle buses will transport participants to the bridge.
here will be no parking or pedestrian access from the CBD or the bridge site.
The existing bridge – which will be disassembled after the new bridge opens – will be commemorated with an artwork on the southern foreshore.
More information on the bridge opening and upcoming work is available in the latest community update online at nswroads.work/batemansbaybridge