Bridges for the Bush program
Project overview
Improving road freight productivity in regional NSW.

Project information
Program information
In October 2012 the NSW Government in partnership with the Australia Government is committed to improving road freight productivity by replacing or upgrading bridges across regional NSW.
Two priority programs to help manage ageing assets and provide the biggest benefit to freight productivity are being implemented.
- Program 1 Higher Mass Limit (HML) bridge restrictions, and
- Program 2 Heritage Timber Truss Bridges.
Background
The NSW road network is critical to the movement of freight in Australia. Half the nation's road freight and three quarters of all interstate road freight journeys are on NSW roads. With the road freight task predicted to nearly double by 2030, significant investment in the NSW road network is required to meet the demand for increased access of larger, safer and heavier freight vehicles.
Addressing the state's deficient rural bridges is a key priority for NSW investment as the bridges currently present the most critical restrictions to freight access.
Benefits
The Bridges for the Bush initiative will enhance freight productivity in country NSW. It is an investment in critical infrastructure to remove a number of significant freight pinch points or bottlenecks on the state road network and to improve the safety and reliability of some old bridge structures. The replacement or upgrade of five Higher Mass Limit deficient bridges alone will remove 8,000 heavy vehicle trips from the freight task each year. This will save the state more than $200 million in economic, social and environmental costs over the next 30 years.
Once replaced all these bridges will have significantly reduced annual recurrent maintenance costs.
Bridges yet to start delivery
Bridges currently being delivered
Bridge | Description | Completion |
---|---|---|
Provide a new HML bridge crossing | Mid 2022 | |
Strengthen timber bridge | Mid 2022 |
Bridges delivered
Bridge | Description | Completion |
---|---|---|
Strengthen timber bridge | April 2021 | |
Strengthen timber bridge | May 2021 | |
Gunnedah Railway Bridge | New bridge over railway on new road alignment | November 2020 |
Tabulam Bridge | Replace timber bridge with a new concrete bridge | September 2020 |
Monkerai Bridge over Karuah River | Strengthen timber bridge | May 2020 |
Barrington Bridge | Replace timber bridge with a new concrete bridge | May 2020 |
Gee Gee Bridge | Replace timber bridge with a new concrete bridge | March 2020 |
Charleyong Bridge | Replace timber bridge with a new concrete bridge | March 2020 |
Lignum Creek Bridge | Timber bridge replaced with a new concrete bridge | May 2019 |
Glennies Creek Bridge | Timber bridge strengthened | March 2018 |
Lawrence - Sportsmans Creek Bridge | Timber bridge replaced with a new concrete bridge | Feb 2018 |
Bemboka Bridge | Concrete bridge widened | Dec 2017 |
Dunmore Bridge | Tiimber bridge strengthened | Oct 2012 |
Crookwell River Bridge | Timber bridge replaced with a new concrete bridge | Jul 2014 |
Carrathool Bridge | Timber bridge strengthened | Apr 2015 |
Tulladunna Bridge | Steel truss bridge replaced with a new concrete bridge | May 2016 |
Holman Bridge | Timber bridge replaced with a new concrete bridge | Feb 2015 |
Kapooka Bridge | Brick arch bridge replaced with a new concrete bridge | Jun 2016 |