Five new bridges to be opened across the Yass Valley in February

Five new bridges will be officially opened by Member for Goulburn, Wendy Tuckerman and Yass Valley Mayor, Rowena Abbey on Wednesday, February 19 2020 as part of Council’s $11.6 million major timber bridge replacement program.

Three bridges on Childowla Road (two concrete and one steel), and concrete bridges on Graces Flat and Burrinjuck Road form part of the 11 bridges replaced after Yass Valley Council secured just under $2.5 million in NSW Government funding under the Restart NSW Fixing Country Roads Program. Yass Valley Council has funded the remaining cost of the extensive infrastructure project, which will be complete when the final three bridges are opened in March of this year.

“Childowla Road in Bookham now has three new dual lane bridges, future proofing the road network and removing all load limits, which will assist our famers in the transportation of feed and livestock during the ongoing drought”, said Yass Valley Mayor, Rowena Abbey.

“The two concrete bridges on Childowla Road measure approximately seven metres and nine metres respectively. The largest bridge along Childowla Road, at approximately 20 metres, is an ex-Army steel bridge, constructed in situ. Graces Flat is a local road with an active Council gravel pit quarry so this bridge, which is approximately eight metres in length, is also a significant one for the community.

“The new bridges are assisting in future proofing the road network and will serve the community well for many, many years to come and we are extremely grateful to the State Government for providing this substantial grant funding.”

 Before: The old timber bridge on Childowla Road.

 After: The new bridge, completed under the $11.6 million timber bridge replacement program.

Goulburn MP Wendy Tuckerman said projects like the bridge replacement program help reduce costs and improve the productivity for the freight industry.

“Economic growth in rural areas is critical to NSW to ensure the food, produce and raw materials that feed and power the state are able to move to market efficiently.”

“That’s why this government is committed to removing pinch points and reducing costs for industry through targeted investments into our regional road network. The viability of theses bridges over the long term was also at risk, so this is a very worthwhile project that the government is proud to support.”

President of the Bookham Agricultural Bureau, Tony Armour, has welcomed the much needed upgrades to the bridges on Childowla Road.

“Living on a ‘no through road’ with three single lane, old wooden and rattling bridges that suddenly became unsafe for any vehicle over 4.5 tonnes was not great! To now have three excellent, two lane, concrete/steel bridges will make travelling on Childowla Road the pleasure it should be.”

Two bridges on Nottingham Road (one concrete and one steel) and a concrete bridge on Horseshoe Road will be officially opened on Wednesday, 11 March 2020. This will mark the conclusion of the bridge replacement program and all load limits will be lifted.

6 February 2020

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