Hampden Bridge

The NSW Government has invested $500,000 to begin planning for a long-term replacement for the heritage-listed Hampden Bridge in Kangaroo Valley. 

This funding will support development of possible long-term solutions, which include carrying out environmental, geotechnical and heritage assessments. The investigation process will also involve early design concepts, cost estimates, and initial economic modelling.

At the same time, Transport is continuing to explore temporary options to restore the bridge’s 42.5-tonne load limit as soon as possible. These options are currently being assessed, with a preferred solution expected to be confirmed in the coming months.

Maintenance work will continue on the bridge as required to safely maintain the current 23-tonne load limit. In addition, a more complex program of strengthening work is being planned, which includes the replacement of another 12 timber beams along the bottom of the trusses.

The community will continue to be updated as work progresses.

We’ll be carrying out repairs on Hampden Bridge from Sunday 10 August. Repairs will support continued use of the bridge at its current 23 tonne load limit and reduce risk of further damage. 

We will be repairing and replacing the damaged timber trusses. Work includes: 

• drilling into the bridge deck and installing temporary access support for workers
• workers in safety harnesses carrying out repairs on the bridge's exterior
• removing damaged timber trusses
• installation of new trusses
• safety and structural checks once work is completed. 

Work will be carried out between 8pm and 5am Sunday to Thursday nights, between Sunday 10 and Thursday 21 August 2025, weather permitting.

Hampden Bridge will be completely closed to all motorists during work hours. Pedestrians will be able to cross the bridge during work hours under the guidance of traffic control. 

Detours will be in place via Macquarie Pass, adding up to 90 minutes' additional travel time. 

On Friday 15 and Friday 22 August between 7pm and 5am, stop/slow traffic control will be in place across Hampden Bridge while works pack down equipment, adding up to ten minutes to travel times. 

Outside of work hours, Hampden Bridge will remain open, with the reduced speed limit of 10 km/h in place for trucks and buses, and a reduced load limit of 23 tonne. 

For more information view the August 2025 works notification (PDF, 509.84 KB). 
 

The new reduced load limit of 23 tonne is now in place. 

Transport acknowledges this load limit reduction from 42.5 tonnes has significant impacts on those who take heavy loads across the bridge.

Transport is investigating options to enable the crossing to return to a 42.5 tonne load limit.

For more information see the June 2025 community update (PDF, 121 KB).

Hampden Bridge is an important piece of heritage listed infrastructure dating back to early 1898. The bridge is Australia’s only surviving examples of a colonial suspension bridge that carries Moss Vale Road across the Kangaroo River in Kangaroo Valley.

Transport has carried out extensive maintenance work and investigations over the past 30 years to help preserve the bridge in its current form, as detailed in the timeline on this page.

Hampden Bridge opens to the public in 1898 with a load limit of 14.5 tonnes.

In 1968, Hampden Bridge's load limit is increased to 20 tonnes.

In 1990, consultants carried out structural analysis of Hampden Bridge to inform repair work.

Structural repair work is carried out on the bridge's stringers and thrust blocks. Eleven new cross girders are installed and the load limit is increased to 30 tonnes.

In 2003, Hampden Bridge's load limit is increased to 42.5 tonnes.

Between 2004 and 2009, ongoing structural analyses and inspections are carried out on the bridge to monitor its condition under the higher load limit. Ongoing issues are detected, requiring higher than normal maintenance and repairs.

In 2011, major rehabilitation works are carried out involving:

• replacing the timber deck
• improving support at each end of the bridge
• replacing the worn bearings and important connection points.

Between 2015 and 2022, ongoing structural analyses and inspections are carried out on the bridge to monitor its condition following the rehabilitation works.

 Ongoing issues are detected, still requiring higher than normal maintenance and repairs.

Load testing, surveying and interim hanger replacement are carried out.

Hampden Bridge's load limit is reduced from 42.5 tonnes to 23 tonnes to protect the structural integrity of the bridge following extensive testing and analyses, while Transport investigates long-term solutions.

Transport continues to investigate long-term solutions for how vehicles over 23 tonnes can cross Kangaroo River at Kangaroo Valley with the aim of finding a preferred option.

What is the history of Hampden Bridge and its previous load limits?

Hampden Bridge at Kangaroo Valley is Australia’s only surviving example of a colonial suspension bridge. It is a three-pin steel cable suspension bridge with timber stiffening trusses and timber deck. It was designed by Edward de Burgh and built between 1895 and 1898 by the NSW Department of Public Works. The bridge is 77 metres long (single clear span) with 5.6-metre-wide deck carriageway.

Hampden Bridge was opened to traffic in 1898 and holds historical and technical significance.

The bridge was designed to carry up to 14.5 tonnes. In 1968 the bridges limit was increased to 20 tonnes and in 2003 to 42.5 tonnes.

Since 2003 there have been ongoing issues with the bridge that have required higher than normal maintenance intervention and repairs. This is due to the strain from heavier vehicles using the bridge and overloading its capacity.

The load limit was implemented to reduce strain on the bridge, while we explore options to ensure the bridge can continue to operate in the long term.

Has Transport looked at ways to keep the current load limit?

Yes. All maintenance and strengthening work has aimed to safely keep the bridge open under the current 42.5 tonne load.

However, the bridge was built in 1898 - long before today’s heavy trucks -and it was never designed for modern freight vehicles.
Hampden Bridge is a significant heritage structure. It’s listed on:

• the NSW State Heritage Register
• the National Trust’s Heritage Register
• the Engineers Australia Register
• the Shoalhaven Local Environmental Plan 2014
• Transport’s own Heritage and Conservation Register.

Because of this, any upgrades must legally respect the bridge’s heritage value, which limits the kind of work that can be done.

This also significantly increases the time to plan work as approvals need to be sought under legislation that is not required on other projects.

Engineering testing shows key parts of the bridge are under excessive strain and are starting to fail. It is becoming increasingly more likely that key parts of the bridge will fail without a reduced load limit. Failure of bridge will result in unplanned sudden and complete closures of the bridge for long lengths of time. This is something we want to avoid.

Is repairing the old bridge a priority over building a new one? 

Transport’s highest priority is to repair the State Heritage-listed bridge as per legislative requirements. Additionally, Transport is considering all available options to allow the river crossing to return to a 42.5 tonne load limit. We are committed to finding the most effective solution while respecting the bridge’s heritage significance.

What is the timeline for a replacement bridge? 

At this stage, no decision has been made on a new bridge. However, the NSW Government has committed $500,000 to begin early planning for a long-term replacement of the Hampden Bridge. This funding supports initial design work, cost estimates, and technical investigations

Transport is exploring and evaluating long-term options that include an existing bridge upgrade or a new bridge. It is anticipated investigations to confirm the preferred longer-term option for the river crossing could take up to 12 months. If a new bridge is approved, development and construction would take from five to eight years.

Transport acknowledges the community and users of the bridge are seeking more detail about the process involved in delivering a potential new bridge.  We are currently in the early stages of planning and do not have definitive answers regarding timelines. This remains subject to ongoing planning, technical assessments and community consultation.

When will the community know what option is viable? 

Transport is investigating three temporary options to restore the 42.5 tonne load limit as soon as possible: strengthening the existing bridge, installing a temporary crossing next to the existing bridge and developing a detour route that crosses the river at a different location. These options are being assessed for viability and, once a preferred option is confirmed, will be shared with the community and industry stakeholders. 

• August 2025 community update (PDF, 509.84 KB)
• June 2025 community update (PDF, 121 KB)
• May 2025 community update (PDF, 108.13 KB)
• May 2025 community update (PDF, 127.51 KB) 

• 20 August 2025 - Minns Labor Government pushing ahead with $500,000 plan for Hampden Bridge in Kangaroo Valley
• 6 May 2025 – Reduced load limit on the way for Hampden Bridge at Kangaroo Valley
• 26 May 2025 – Update on Hampden Bridge load limit changes