Infrastructure resilience work - bridges

Old Mill Road Bridge is located 4km from the Princes Highway, along Old Mill Road, Turlinjah. The old single-lane timber bridge crossed a small creek and was at risk from bushfire. It provided the only access to residential properties further along the road.

The new bridge was built from precast concrete beams in late 2024. The road was closed while the old bridge was demolished, and the new structure built.

A Review of Environmental Factors (REF) was prepared to assess how the construction work might affect the environment.

• Old Mill Road bridge REF (4.4 MB)

Old Mill Road Bridge: Set to be replaced with a sturdier structure

Silo Farm Bridge crosses the Tuross River and is an integral part of the access route for two dairy farms west of Bodalla. The old bridge was typically submerged several times per year due to high river flows during wet weather. Not only were residents and emergency services unable to get in or out of the area, but milk trucks could not access the dairy farms. The milk could not be stored on-site for more than two days, and farmers were left with no choice but to dump thousands of litres of milk. The result was a loss of income for the farmers, loss of milk supply for the community and adverse impacts on the local environment.

We have now replaced Silo Farm Bridge with a higher structure to improve access during future floods. During the February/March 2022 flood the dairy farmers dumped 107,097L of milk due to a lack of access. If the same event were to occur now, with the new bridge in place, the farmers will be able to store their milk for the brief time until the bridge is again trafficable.

Contractors began building the new bridge in February 2023 and traffic was moved onto it by the end of 2023. Work on site was finished in April 2024.

Silo Farm Bridge: The original low-lying timber bridge often went underwater when it rained

Under construction:  A mobile crane lowering the first deck segment into place

Finished: The new bridge stands tall and strong, far more resilient than the old one that has now been removed

The Potato Point Bridge is located on a road providing the only two-wheel drive access to a popular beach and holiday park.

Our contractors have replaced the timber bridge using concrete with a stainless-steel shell to provide protection against the harsh saltwater environment. We chose to use the innovative technique in order to significantly increase the life of the asset.

Potato Point Bridge: The old timber bridge crosses a coastal creek

Temporary crossing: Contractors demolished the old bridge and provided a temporary structure to retain access to the holiday park

Potato Point Bridge rebuilt: We opened the new bridge to traffic in late 2022

The Tilba Tilba Creek Bridge is on Corkhill Drive; a major tourist route providing access to the historic Tilba villages and district as well as Gulaga National Park. We identified the bridge replacement as a priority due to its declining condition and high volume of traffic.

We replaced the bridge during the quieter months of 2023. The new bridge is now in place and Corkhill Drive is again open to through traffic.

The new bridge features a combination of steel, concrete, and large prefabricated aluminium components, which helped keep construction time to a minimum. We maintained the original road alignment to minimise impact on the surrounding area.

The new bridge is safer, quieter and provides more reliable access for residents, tourists, and school buses. It is stronger, longer and wider and includes a pathway to provide a safe crossing area for pedestrians.

The new Tilba Tilba Creek Bridge: Located 600m from the Princes Highway, just before Foxglove Gardens and the turnoff to the sportsground

Narooma’s Wagonga Scenic Drive winds its way through rural residential areas, agricultural land and state forest. The road is also a popular tourist route providing access to the upper waters of Wagonga Inlet. The road featured five timber bridges, all at risk of fire and flood.

Our contractors completed the last bridge replacement in August 2023. The new bridges allow for safer and more reliable crossings for residents, tourists, delivery services, emergency services and maintenance staff. The height of each bridge has been increased further reducing the likelihood of residents being trapped in or away from their homes.

Check out some key steps along the way to replacing the bridges.

Cowdroys Bridge: Bridge abutments in position in March 2022

Cobra Bridge: Construction underway alongside the old timber bridge in May 2022

Grumleys Bridge: Almost finished in December 2022

Punkalla Bridge: The last of the Wagonga Scenic Drive bridges was finished in August 2023