Brig O'Johnston Bridge at Clarence Town

Transport for NSW will be carrying out essential maintenance and safety improvement work on Brig O’Johnston Bridge.

The bridge will be closed temporarily with a detour in place between 9am and 3pm on Wednesday 9, Thursday 10 and Friday 11 July, weather permitting.

This work was delayed by wet weather earlier in July.

While the bridge is closed, a detour will be available for all vehicles via Clarence Town Road, Italia Road, the Pacific Highway and The Bucketts Way, which is expected to add up to 50 minutes to journeys. More information is available on the July project notification (PDF, 540.11 KB).

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

Transport for NSW will be carrying out essential maintenance and safety improvement work on Brig O’Johnston Bridge. 

The bridge will be closed temporarily with a detour in place between 9am and 3pm on Tuesday 1, Wednesday 2 and Thursday 3 July, weather permitting. 

While the bridge is closed, a detour will be available for all vehicles via Clarence Town Road, Italia Road, the Pacific Highway and The Bucketts Way, which is expected to add up to 50 minutes to journeys. More information is available on the project notification (PDF, 800.38 KB).

Transport crews will establish the site on Monday 30 June and demobilise the site on Friday 4 July, but the bridge will be open to traffic on these days. 

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

Transport for NSW is continuing to carry out emergency maintenance work as a precautionary measure after identifying a defect following a routine inspection.

Repair work will continue between 9am and 3pm on Wednesday 30 April, weather permitting.

Stop/slow traffic control will be in place on the bridge while crews get to and from the work site around 9am and 3pm on Wednesday.

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

Transport for NSW is carrying out emergency maintenance work as a precautionary measure, after identifying a defect following a routine inspection.

Repair work will be carried out between 8am and 4pm on Tuesday 15 April and Wednesday 16 April, weather permitting. Detours will be in place for light vehicles via Duke Street, Clarence Town and East Seaham roads, which is expected to add up to 30 minutes additional travel time. More information is available on the project notification (PDF, 664.79 KB).

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

Transport is continuing to plan for the rehabilitation of Brig O’Johnston Bridge, which includes carrying out geotechnical investigation work.

Work will be carried out on the bridge from Monday 17 February and expected to be completed in two weeks, weather permitting. Working hours are 7am to 4pm.

The Brig O'Johnston Bridge over the Williams River at Clarence Town was built in 1880 and is the oldest surviving timber truss bridge in NSW. The bridge is one of 26 bridges identified for conservation in the Transport for NSW Timber Truss Bridge Conservation Strategy, which was developed in consultation with the Heritage Council of NSW.

The strategy was developed to address the long term management of these structures and aims to establish a balance between infrastructure provision and heritage conservation. The strategy was displayed for stakeholder and community comment in 2011. The feedback received was considered in finalising the strategy and identifying bridges for replacement and conservation.

Given its heritage significance the Brig O'Johnston Bridge was identified for rehabilitation to meet current vehicle load standards while preserving its heritage features.

The NSW Government is funding the rehabilitation of the Brig O'Johnston Bridge.

Rehabilitation work is required to strengthen the bridge to meet current vehicle loads and heavy vehicle requirements, as well as help to reduce future maintenance costs.

Transport for NSW is continuing to work with the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) with planning progressing towards a formal application to approve rehabilitation of the bridge.

Following approval, an environmental assessment and delivery options will be prepared for consultation with the community.

Transport will continue to keep the community informed as the project progresses.

• July 2025 project notification (PDF, 540.11 KB)- Bridge closure and repair work on Brig O'Johnston Bridge, Clarence Town from Wednesday 9 July.
• June 2025 project notification (PDF, 800.38 KB) - Upcoming repair work on Brig O’Johnston Bridge, changes to alternative routes for heavy vehicles and new Clarence Town Bridge under construction
• April 2025 project notification (PDF, 664.79 KB) - Bridge closure and repair work on Brig O’Johnston Bridge, Clarence Town from Tuesday 15 April
• February 2025 project notification (PDF, 265.5 KB) - Geotechnical investigations on Brig O’Johnston Bridge, Clarence Town from Monday 17 February
• September 2020 project notification - Bridge closure and detours on Brig O'Johnston Bridge, Clarence Town from Saturday 26 September.
• May 2017 project notification - Maintenance work on Brig O’Johnston Bridge, Clarence Town, from Wednesday 10 May.
• November 2016 project notification - Update on maintenance work on Brig O'Johnston Bridge at Clarence Town.
• August 2016 project notification - Maintenance work on Brig O'Johnston Bridge at Clarence Town from Monday 15 August 2016.
• July 2016 project notification
• October 2015 project update
• January 2015 project update
• November 2014 essential maintenance work letter - Maintenance work for Brig O'Johnston Bridge at Clarence Town from 17 November 2014.
• October 2014 community update
• October 2014 community presentation