Construction contract awarded for new Wallendbeen Bridge

Current design of the permanent bridge on Burley Griffin Way at Wallendbeen. Image courtesy of the NSW Government.

Works are soon to begin on the new road-over-rail bridge at Wallendbeen in New South Wales, with the construction contract awarded to Abergeldie.

Abergeldie was last week also awarded the construction contract for the New Dubbo Bridge.

The new concrete girder bridge on Burley Griffin Way at Wallendbeen will feature a 30-metre-long bridge deck with better approaches and wider lanes, which is expected to open up a more efficient freight route for the region.

Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Sam Farraway said the New South Wales Government was replacing the temporary single-lane steel bridge to permanently restore access for motorists and pedestrians as quickly and safely as possible.

“We know how important this corridor is to locals and freight operators, which is why we built a temporary bridge last October when the existing bridge was damaged in bad weather,” Farraway said.

“This contract award moves us a step closer to delivering the new permanent two-lane crossing, which will improve travel times between the Hume Highway and the Riverina, the Olympic and Newell highways.”

Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said site set-up will start this month, ahead of construction starting in early 2023.

“I know there has been strong representation from the community about a pedestrian link and I want to reassure locals, options for a pedestrian link will continue to be explored and put in place following construction of the bridge,” she said.

“This temporary structure has served us well, but it is time to get on with constructing the new bridge and ensuring better access for all motorists.”

UGL Regional Linx manages all operations and maintenance on the Country Regional Network in New South Wales and will work with Abergeldie to build the new bridge.

Works will be carried out between 7am and 6pm Monday to Friday, and between 8am and 1pm on Saturdays, weather permitting. Works may also be carried out over 24-hour periods when no trains are running during scheduled Australian Rail Track Corporation shutdowns. The community will be notified before this work is carried out.

Road users will continue to use the temporary bridge during construction of the permanent bridge, limiting traffic impacts.

For more information, visit: www.roads-waterways.transport.nsw.gov.au