The last remaining timber bridge within the Inverell Shire – Mathers Bridge, over Frazers Creek, near Nullamanna – has been removed and replaced with a new higher, longer and stronger concrete structure.
The $4.1 million project is expected to be completed and open to traffic by April.
“This is a historic milestone for Inverell Shire Council with Mathers the final major timber bridge to be replaced in the district,” Mr Marshall said, Northern Tablelands MP.
“The old structure served the community well for 65 years and its concrete replacement is expected to last even longer.”
“The new 32.7-metre-long bridge is as solid as a rock, with its foundation concrete piers driven more than 20 metres into the ground and the road carriageway widened to nine metres to accommodate larger and heavier modern trucks.”
“The deck also sits six metres above Frazers Creek below, giving plenty of clearance during floods and high river flow events.”
“Mathers Bridge is a major freight route, so it will be able to safely and comfortably accommodate farm freight across Inverell Shire and help get livestock and agricultural produce to market.”
“Concrete bridges require a lot less maintenance and so by replacing wooden bridges in the road network council is also easing the financial burden on ratepayers.”
Mr Marshall said $3.1 million of funding was secured under the former State Government’s Fixing Country Bridges program, with Inverell Shire Council contributing the remainder of the cost.
“Inverell Shire Council is to be commended on this new bridge and achieving a significant milestone of being officially timber bridge free,” Mr Marshall said.