Approx 34 local bridges to be upgraded through $500m NSW Govt program

About 34 timber bridges across New South Wales have been announced to receive funding through the second round of the $500 million Fixing Country Bridges program. 

The New South Wales Government is allocating $49.25 million to replace these timber bridges with concrete structures across 21 Local Government Areas (LGA). 

“Our government is getting on with the job of building infrastructure to better withstand extreme weather events and protect our supply chain. 

“That’s why we’re pushing ahead with Round 2A of the Fixing Country Bridges program in LGAs where councils are ready to get work, so these projects can get started. 

“We’ll continue to work with councils across the rest of the state, many of which have been hit hard by natural disasters like floods to firm up the remaining bridges,” Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Sam Farraway said. 

By replacing the old timber bridges, more efficient routes are opened for heavy vehicles from freight to the local school bus and RFS tankers. 

In addition, the upgraded bridges will also help improve access for freight companies, helping them reduce their operational costs. This, in turn, will ultimately reduce costs for NSW families when purchasing goods from local supermarkets. 

The first round of Fixing Country Bridges saw a total of $290 million awarded to councils to replace over 400 timber bridges across 54 LGAs. 

All other eligible applications that were submitted during Round 2 of the Fixing Country Bridges program will be announced towards the end of the year. 

Source: Transport for NSW; Roads & Infrastructure Australia; Infrastructure Magazine