Opening Marks a Milestone in Council’s Bridge Replacement Program

Published on 18 July 2024

Upper Hunter Shire Council (UHSC) is pleased to announce the opening of Dartbrook Bridge, marking the final milestone in the Council’s extensive bridge replacement program, funded largely thanks to more than $10.9 million in support from the NSW Government.

This program, which has successfully replaced 14 bridges across the Upper Hunter Shire, has been a joint initiative funded by the NSW Government’s Fixing Country Bridges Program and UHSC.

The combined funding for this transformative project totalled $11,578,004, with $10,948,004 provided by the NSW Government and $630,000 contributed by Council.

The replacement of these bridges ensures safer and more reliable infrastructure for local communities and delivers significant economic benefits through improved regional access and job creation.

The new concrete bridges are set to provide long-lasting and resilient infrastructure that meets the demands of our growing region.

NSW Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison said the government was pleased to be improving local infrastructure across the Upper Hunter.

“These new concrete bridges will be more resilient through floods and fires and they will also unlock economic benefits for the shire by better connecting regional and state road networks,” Minister Aitchison said.

“Our investments will have a huge positive impact by improving road safety and ensuring that farmers and local businesses will reliably be able to access, manage and deliver their produce to industries and markets for the long term.

“By investing in the building of better infrastructure we’ve also been able to help council achieve substantial time and cost savings by allowing them to bring forward around 10 years of backlogged maintenance and five years of future maintenance.”

Upper Hunter Shire Mayor Maurice Collison remarked on the significance of this project:

“The opening of Dartbrook Bridge signifies a major achievement for our community and Council. This program not only addresses over a decade of backlogged maintenance but also prepares us for future infrastructure needs.

“Our residents can now enjoy safer, more reliable access, which will positively impact local businesses, services, and daily commutes. We extend our gratitude to the NSW Government for their substantial support in making this program a reality.”

Photo from left to right: Project Manager Chris, Cr Adam Williamson, Mayor Maurice Collison, Hon Jenny Aitchison, Minister for Regional Transport & Roads, Mr Dan Repacholi MP, Deputy Mayor James Burns, GM Greg McDonald, Cr Tayah Clout, Cr Ron Campbell.