Work to start on Monday on the new Spring Creek Bridge
The project is jointly funded, with the Australian Government contributing $5 million under the new Safer Local Roads and Infrastructure Program, formerly the Bridges Renewal Program, and the NSW Government contributing $8.1 million.
Work on the new 64-metre long bridge will start next Monday, 16 September, with site establishment followed by the demolition of the current bridge structure.
Once demolition is complete, the next step will be the start of piling work for the new bridge, with piling alone expected to use more than 260 cubic metres of locally-sourced concrete and about 60 tonnes of steel reinforcement.
Saunders Civilbuild Pty Ltd was confirmed as the successful contractor to build the new bridge following a competitive tender process.
“This is an important project to keep tourists and freight operators moving in north-western NSW and will also provide investment into the local community in areas such as accommodation, hospitality and sourcing of materials,” Transport for NSW Director West Alistair Lunn said.
“The Spring Creek Bridge is an important link for road users travelling on the Kamilaroi Highway, as well as for the local community, agriculture and freight industries.
“The new Spring Creek Bridge will improve road safety, particularly for heavy vehicles that rely on the bridge to travel between Narrabri and Wee Waa.”
The existing Spring Creek Bridge was built in 1968 and is now in poor condition.
“The existing bridge has previously been subject to heavy vehicle restrictions and detours to allow for essential safety work to be carried out to stabilise the structure, creating significant inconvenience for all road users,” Mr Lunn said.
“The new Spring Creek Bridge will be a stronger, wider structure that meets modern design standards along with current and future road network requirements.
“The new bridge will also improve access for freight and, ultimately, provide greater travel efficiency for all users in the area.”
The entire project is expected to use more than 720 cubic metres of locally-sourced concrete and will require about 140 tonnes of steel reinforcement.
The new Spring Creek Bridge will be built on the same alignment as the existing bridge, with two-way traffic flow on the Kamilaroi Highway maintained via a temporary sealed side track. The speed limit on the side track will be 60 km/h for the duration of the project for the safety of workers and motorists.
It is expected the new Spring Creek Bridge will be open to traffic in late 2025, weather permitting.
For more information on the project visit the Spring Creek Bridge project page.