Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke visited the new Lignum Creek bridge project today to witness the installation of the huge girders which will carry the weight of the bridge.
The new bridge, which is on the Mid Western Highway, 60 kilometres west of Grenfell, will be a stronger, longer and wider replacement for the original wooden bridge.
“It was incredible to watch these huge girders being lifted with such precision into place,” Ms Cooke said.
“These girders are 18 metres long, 2.5 metres wide and weigh more than 23 tonnes, and it’s a testament to the skill of the bridge-building team that these girders go in so smoothly.”
The replacement bridge is being built thanks to $6.7 million from the NSW Government’s Bridges for the Bush program.
“The old wooden bridge was built in 1937 and had served the community well, but soon road users will be able to enjoy a smoother and safer crossing on this wider 72-metre concrete bridge,” Ms Cooke said.
The new bridge will be stronger and wider as well as have lower maintenance costs than the original timber bridge.
“Work started on the new bridge in July and is progressing well,” Ms Cooke said.
“Motorists, and particularly heavy vehicle operators, will enjoy a much smoother ride across the concrete bridge when it is completed and opened to traffic in mid-2019.”
More than 144 vehicles travel this section of road each day including 45 heavy vehicles which account for 32 per cent of bridge traffic.
“A bypass track is being used to divert traffic during the work on the new bridge, ensuring as few traffic disruptions as possible along the Mid Western Highway,” Ms Cooke said.
“The project will employ 16 people including six people during bridge construction and up to 10 people during road construction.
“Once this project is complete, motorists and the community will be able to enjoy the new bridge for years to come.”
