Council starts work on 11th new bridge in 10 months
Kyogle Council has started work on its 11th new bridge in the past 10 months.
Council’s bridge crew began demolishing Somerville Bridge on Ettrick Road first thing yesterday morning.
It’s hoped, weather permitting, the new steel truss bridge will be in place and open to traffic in just eight weeks.
The new two-lane bridge will replace an old timber bridge that carried a 20 tonne load limit.
Kyogle Council Mayor Cr Danielle Mulholland said the replacement of the bridge would enable producers to get their cattle or product to market, while emergency and heavier vehicles would have improved access.
“Council is committed to improving our road and bridge network and this bridge is the latest in a very ambitious works program,” she said.
The new bridge is expected to cost $460,000 and will be funded on a 50/50 basis by Council and the Federal Government through the Land Transport Infrastructure Projects.
Ettrick Road will be closed at the bridge (located about 5.9km from the intersection of Afterlee Road) while the work is completed. The alternate route is via Pines Road/Edenville Road or Iron Pot Creek/ Afterlee Road.
Since last July, Council has also converted five smaller timber bridges to concrete culverts.
