Cohens Bridge

Transport for NSW has started repainting work on Cohens Bridge in Gunnedah, following earlier structural upgrades.

The project involves removing lead-based paint, cleaning and repainting more than 2,600 square metres of steel to protect the bridge and preserve its heritage.

From 27 August 2025, single lane closures with traffic signals will be in place. Heavy vehicles and those over three metres wide must continue using the existing detour.

Work is expected to be completed by August 2026.

Transport for NSW thanks the community for their patience during this important preservation work.

Please read the August 2025 factsheet for painting works (PDF, 447.69 KB). 

Cohens Bridge on Chandos Street at Gunnedah will reopen to all traffic from Saturday, 7 June 2025, after the completion of essential upgrade work.

The project involved safely removing and replacing the existing concrete deck, ensuring the protection of the bridge’s significant heritage value, and upgrading its structural components.

We thank the community for their patience and understanding during the closure and are pleased to restore access to this vital connection.

Bridge painting work is scheduled to start in July 2025. This will require single lane closures under temporary traffic signals. Due to lane width restrictions, a detour for heavy vehicles will remain in place during this time.

Transport for NSW remains committed to preserving the bridge’s heritage while improving safety and longevity for all road users.

Cohens Bridge on Chandos Street at Gunnedah will remain closed to all traffic until Monday, 30 June 2025, due to delays caused by Tropical Cyclone Alfred and recent severe weather events in the region.

Bridge crews were required to help with emergency response and clean up operations across impacted areas in the state’s north. 
In addition, heavy rainfall has delayed on site activities as work crews had to prepare the nearby site compound for a potential flooding event with the river rapidly rising.

The extended closure is necessary to allow crews to complete essential rehabilitation work, including the safe removal and replacement of the existing concrete deck, while protecting the bridge’s significant heritage value.

We thank the community for their continued patience and understanding during this extended closure and apologise for any inconvenience caused.

Transport for NSW remains committed to preserving the bridge’s heritage while delivering a safer and more resilient structure for all road users.

For more information about the project, please read our April 2025 project update (PDF, 325.65 KB).

Cohens Bridge is now closed to all traffic from Monday, 3 February 2025, for essential rehabilitation works. The closure will remain in place for 18 weeks, until Friday, 30 May 2025, weather permitting.

This closure is necessary to safely remove the existing concrete deck and ensure the protection of the bridge’s significant heritage value. The bridge will also remain closed throughout the Easter holiday period.

All vehicles, including emergency services, must use the designated detour route via O’Keefe Avenue, Old Blue Vale Road, Blue Vale Road, Kamilaroi Highway, and Chandos Street. The detour is expected to add approximately 14 minutes to journey times.

Transport for NSW thanks the community for their patience and understanding during these critical works.

For more information about the project and to view the detour map, please read our December 2024 Project update (PDF, 335.6 KB)

Due to contractor, supplier and crew availability, our work schedule has changed, and the bridge will remain open throughout the January school holiday period. 

We will need to close the bridge for an additional four weeks to ensure the existing concrete deck is removed safely and the bridge’s significant heritage value is protected. 

The closure will be in place for a total of 18 weeks, from Monday 3 February 2025 to Friday 30 May 2025, weather permitting. The bridge will remain closed during the Easter holiday period.

The bridge will be closed to all vehicles during the closure period. 

For more information about the project and to view the detour map, please read our December 2024 Project update (PDF, 335.6 KB)
 

Work on the bridge has been progressing well since starting in late August 2024 and we expect to complete the project in late 2026, weather permitting.

Since starting work on the project we have:

• established a site compound next to the bridge
• cleared vegetation to enable access underneath the bridge
• installed scaffolding
• started minor concrete repairs to the bridge approach spans
• started repairing and replacing damaged metal elements
• finalised our plans for the temporary full bridge closure

Transport for NSW is carrying out maintenance work on Cohens Bridge on Chandos Street at Gunnedah to ensure the longevity of the bridge as well as protect the bridge’s significant heritage value.

We will be starting work on Monday 26 August 2024 and expect to take around two years to complete the project, weather permitting.

Our work hours are 7am to 6pm, Monday to Friday and 8am to 1pm, Saturday.

The project will involve a temporary 14 week closure of Cohens Bridge to allow the installation of the new bridge deck. The closure will be confirmed as the project progresses and is being planned for early 2025, following the Christmas and New Year period. The bridge will remain closed during the Easter holiday period. 

If you have any comments or concerns about our plan to close Cohens Bridge during this time, please let us know by emailing reece.kennedy@transport.nsw.gov.au by COB Friday 30 August 2024.

For more information about the project and plans for the closure, please read our August 2024 Project update (PDF, 417.59 KB).

Thank you for your patience while we carry out this important work. 

Cohens Bridge is located on Chandos Street at Gunnedah and has provided an important link over the Namoi River since 1884, making it one of NSW’s oldest metal road bridges.

The 173 metre long, 12 span bridge has significant heritage value. The bridge has been assessed as bring of State Significance and is listed on the Heritage and Conservation Register.

Transport for NSW is carrying out essential maintenance and repairs on Cohens Bridge. Work on the project is starting from 26 August 2024 and will take about two years to complete, weather permitting.

The project involves:

• setting up a site compound next to the bridge
• vegetation clearing to enable access underneath the bridge
• installation of scaffolding
• minor concrete repairs to the brig approach spans
• repairing and replacing damaged metal elements
• replacing the existing concrete deck through the truss spans
• installation of new steel traffic barrier in the truss spans
• painting all steel bridge elements.

The project will:

• maintain safety for road users
• protect the significant heritage value of the bridge
• minimise ongoing maintenance cost while also maximising the service life of the bridge
• minimise safety risks to the workforce carrying out the work
• minimise the environmental impact from carrying out the work.

A temporary bridge closure will be required as part of this project, to allow the new bridge deck to be installed through the two truss spans.

We will be closing the bridge from Monday 3 February 2025 to Friday 30 May 2025, weather permitting.

The closure will remain in place during the Easter holiday period and will impact all motorists. 

During the temporary closure of the bridge, motorists will be detoured via O’Keefe Avenue, Old Blue Vale Road, Blue Vale Road, Kamilaroi Highway and Chandos Steet. 

The detour is expected to add around 14 minutes to journeys. You can view a map of the detour arrangements in our December 2024 Project Update (PDF, 335.6 KB). 

Emergency services will need to use the detour during the closure as there will be no safe access to the bridge. 

Due to the narrow width of the bridge, a heavy vehicle detour will be in place for the duration of the project.

Heavy vehicles will be detoured via O’Keefe Avenue, Old Blue Vale Road, Blue Vale Road, Kamilaroi Highway and Chandos Street. The detour is expected to add around 14 minutes travel time to journeys.

• August 2025 project update (PDF, 447.69 KB)
  Painting works Factsheet and FAQs
• April 2025 project update (PDF, 325.65 KB)
  Update on bridge closure
• December 2024 project update (PDF, 335.6 KB) 
  Temporary full bridge closure
• August 2024 project update (PDF, 417.59 KB)
  Start of work