A new bridge to replace Main Arm #2 causeway

Published on 24 October 2020

Byron Shire Council will soon be replacing the Main Arm #2 causeway across Stony Creek with a new fish-friendly bridge or culvert and realigning the approaches on Main Arm Road.

The $805,000 project is jointly funded by Council and the Australian Government’s Bridges Renewal Program.

Council’s Road and Bridge Engineer, Josh Provis, said the single lane causeway has served the community well for many years but it is in very poor condition and the grant couldn’t have come at a better time.

“We will be replacing the causeway with a two-lane bridge and realigning the road approaches so it is safer for drivers particularly past the Palmwoods Road intersection, which will provide better sight distance.” Mr Provis said.

“Locals will recall the causeway last flooded in February this year and while the new bridge will still be inaccessible at times, we are looking at raising it so the crossing is less flood-prone,” he said.

“Like the other causeways we have replaced in the area over the past few years, this one will also be fish-friendly meaning native fish and other aquatic life will be able to move under the bridge, extending their habitat and improving the health of our waterways and surrounding environment,” Mr Provis said.

The design of the bridge is to start this year and construction is expected to start in the 2021/22 financial year.

Council also recently finished work on a $600,000 package of priority roadworks and improvements at two black spots on Main Arm Road which included road-widening, laying of a high-friction anti-skid surface, pavement reconstruction and the installation of guardrails, guide posts and signage.

Other projects planned for Main Arm include further safety upgrades at historical crash locations and an upgrade to the stretch of Main Arm Road east of Sherry’s Bridge where one kilometre of the road will be reconstructed and raised to alleviate flooding problems. 

Surveying and design for these projects, which is funded from the NSW Government’s Road and Infrastructure Election Commitment and Safer Roads Program, is currently underway.

For media enquiries contact Annie Lewis, Media and Communications Coordinator, on 6626 7320.