Work is scheduled to begin on Monday to replace an ageing timber bridge on Castledoyle Road, on the eastern outskirts of Armidale.
The $984,000 project, funded through the Federal Government’s Drought Communities Programme Extension, will build a new concrete structure over Shingle Hut Creek.
Contractors will start by constructing a side track which will be used to detour traffic during workdays.
Demolition of the existing timber structure is scheduled to begin on Monday 24 August.
It is one of three timber bridges being replaced by Council during the 2020/21 financial year, improving traffic safety and access for heavy vehicles.
“The replacement of these ageing bridges with new concrete structures will eliminate the need for load limits,” Interim General Manager David Kerr said.
“That assists primary producers, transport operators and other operators of heavy vehicles who previously had to take alternative, often longer, routes.”
Council is also replacing timber bridges on Cookes Road and Rockvale Road, as Round 4 of Council’s Bridge Renewal Strategy.
Construction of Shingle Hut Creek Bridge is scheduled to be completed in December.
The $745,000 project to replace Dumaresq Creek Bridge on Cookes Road and the $561,000 Pint Pot Creek Bridge are scheduled for the first half of 2021.
A total of 32 timber bridges have been identified for replacement through the Bridge Renewal Strategy, which receives dollar-for-dollar funding assistance through the Federal Government’s Bridge Renewal Program.
