Windsor Bridge replacement

The construction of the new Windsor Bridge is now complete and was opened to traffic in May 2020. The final traffic configuration was completed in December 2020.

Non-Aboriginal archaeological objects discovered during the project were handed over as part of the project approval and the Heritage Interpretation Plan to the Hawkesbury City Council and are now part of the Hawkesbury Museum’s collection. Archaeologists will continue to work in the project area when required.

The Hawkesbury City Council has a number of archaeological items currently displayed at the UNCOVERED exhibition at the Hawkesbury Regional Museum. The online Thompson Square website showcases these and the many other archaeological discoveries and tells the story of the tens of thousands of years of human history uncovered during the bridge project.

Hawkesbury Regional Museum
Address: 8 Baker St, Windsor NSW 2756.

Thompson Square website.

Originally built for horse-drawn vehicles and foot traffic in 1874, Windsor Bridge is now used by up to 19,000 vehicles every day. The existing structure has deteriorated and reached the end of its useful life.  It no longer meets current road design standards so it needs to be replaced.

Transport for NSW investigated a number of different options including repairing and replacing the bridge. We found restoration of the existing structure would only add a limited period to the life of the bridge before additional costly repairs or replacement would be needed.

Community consultation on the project began in 2009 and has continued throughout the development process. We considered the issues raised during consultation together with environmental and heritage studies in finalising the design.

Key features of the project include:

• Three lanes to operate from opening
• New approach roads and intersections to connect the new bridge to the existing road network
• New traffic lights with pedestrian facilities at the intersection of Bridge Street and George Street
• Modifications to local roads and access arrangements, including changes to the Macquarie Park access road and reconnection of The Terrace
• A pedestrian and cyclist facilities, including a shared path for access to and across the new bridge
• Removal and backfill of the existing bridge approach roads
• Removal of the existing bridge once the new bridge is operational
• Landscaping and urban design work, including within the Thompson Square parkland area and adjacent to the northern intersection of Wilberforce Road, Freemans Reach Road and the Macquarie Park access road.

Key benefits of the project include:

• Improved safety for motorists, pedestrians and cyclists from a new, reliable bridge with two lanes southbound and one northbound
• Improved traffic flow from a bridge that allows two-way heavy vehicle traffic and shoulders for vehicle breakdowns
• Upgrading an essential local and regional road link across the Hawkesbury River at Windsor
• Improved traffic efficiency by installing traffic lights at the intersection of Bridge and George Streets and a new dual-lane roundabout at Freemans Reach Road and Wilberforce Road
• A new bridge that can cope with higher levels of flooding
• Better access for pedestrians and cyclists from a three metre wide shared pedestrian and cycle path that provides safe, efficient connections to Thompson Square and surrounds
• Reduced road footprint within the Thompson Square heritage precinct
• A unified open space in Thompson Square increasing the usable area in the square by more than 500 square metres with direct access to the river.

• 3 December 2020

  New traffic lights and extra lane on Windsor bridge now open to traffic.

• 23 October 2019

  Design improvements on the way for Windsor Bridge replacement project.