New England Highway Bridge Barrier Improvement

Transport for NSW is continuing work on Liddell Deviation Bridge on the New England Highway at Ravensworth. This upgrade includes widening of the existing bridge deck and the installation of new steel barrier rails.

Work on the northern section is complete and work will continue on the southern bridge extension. We expect to complete this upgrade in late October 2022, weather permitting.

To minimise the impact to motorists, we are working at night between 7pm and 5am from Monday to Thursday.

Occasional day work may be required between 6am and 4.30pm from Monday to Friday.

For the duration of the project, the bridge will remain narrowed to seven metres. During and outside work hours, loads over seven metres must pass over the temporary concrete barriers which have a 1.4 metre height.

Loads unable to pass over the temporary concrete barriers are encouraged to plan their journeys and arrange an alternative route.

For more information, please refer to traffic changes section below.

The New England Highway bridge barrier improvement project will deliver safety upgrades to bridge barriers on four bridges on the New England Highway between Ravensworth and Liddell:

• Liddell Deviation Bridge (B1334)
• Bayswater Creek Bridge (B1335)
• Patrick Plains Bridge (B1338)
• Pikes Gully Bridge (B1337)

The bridge barriers were all built around 1966 with an old standard concrete traffic barrier and concrete end posts. The barriers have reached the end of their functional life and need to be upgraded to current safety standards.

The bridges will be widened as part of the barrier project to ensure there is safe width for heavy mining equipment which is transported along this section of the New England Highway, as well as improving traffic conditions for all road users by eliminating narrowing road sections.

The bridges range from 22 to 86 metres long and four are within a 7.2 kilometre section of the New England Highway between Ravensworth and Liddell.

It will take about nine months to complete the barrier replacement and widening at each bridge, weather permitting. Lane width restrictions will be in place while work is carried out, with a temporary speed limit reduction.

During night work, single lane closures with stop/slow arrangements and a reduced 40km/h speed limit will be in place. A reduced 60km/h speed limit will be in place outside of work hours with no change to lane width.

During day work, a reduced 60km/h speed limit will be in place.

For the duration of the project, the bridge will remain narrowed to seven metres. During and outside work hours, loads over seven metres must pass over the temporary concrete barriers which have a 1.4 metre height. Loads unable to pass over the temporary concrete barriers are encouraged to plan their journeys and arrange an alternative route.

OSOM permit holders must contact our Project Engineer, Michael Swanson on 0457 905 734 at least five days before travel to arrange alternative access. OSOM operators should contact our Team Leader, Brendon Bourke, on 0457 562 689 when approaching the traffic control position leading up to the closed lane during night work if assistance is required to safely pass through the site.

Work to upgrade barriers on Liddell Deviation Bridge started in July 2021 and is expected to be complete in late October 2022, weather permitting.

Work to upgrade Bayswater Creek Bridge and Pikes Gully Bridge is expected to commence late 2022.

We will continue to keep the community updated as the project progresses.

• January 2022 project notification

  New England Highway Bridge Barrier Improvement Project – Liddell Deviation Bridge at Ravensworth.

• July 2021 project notification

  Start of work on Liddell Deviation Bridge on the New England Highway, Ravensworth, from Monday 19 July, 2021.