RMS complete $4M refurbishments to 111 year old bridge

After eight months of rehabilitation works, Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) NSW has completed works on the historic Colemans Bridge.

The upgrade is hoped to future-proof the bridge and provide safer journeys over Lismore’s Leycester Creek.

Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Roads and Infrastructure Chris Gulaptis said work to repaint and strengthen the 111-year-old Dare truss bridge was now complete.

“Colemans Bridge provides a vital link over Leycester Creek between the Lismore CBD and South Lismore, and upgrades like this help ensure the bridge remains fit for use for many more years to come,” Gulaptis said.

“Work to strengthen and maintain Colemans Bridge has been under way since November last year, and included re-stressing the stress laminated timber decks, strengthening trusses and replacing the existing traffic barrier.”

Some timber elements of the bridge have also been replaced along with removal of steel corrosion and repairs to the bridge’s surface and walkway.

Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole said the $4 million refurbishment, funded through the NSW Government’s Bridges for the Bush program, was on the back of discussions with Transport for NSW, Lismore City Council and other local stakeholders early last year.

“This project is not only about essential maintenance on Colemans Bridge to ensure it continues serving the local community well into the future, but it’s kept about 15 people employed full time over the eight-month project, with most of the contract work and fabrication done by local companies,” Toole said.

The Bridges for the Bush initiative works to fund the removal of freight pinch points or bottlenecks on the state road network and improve the safety and reliability of old bridge structures.

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