Wednesday 27 January 2010
Preliminary work has begun today to build two new bridges at Piallamore and Woolomin to replace old timber structures.
The sidetrack at the Oakey Creek Bridge on the Nundle Road at Piallamore will be opened to traffic this afternoon and will be in place while the demolition of the old bridge and the construction of the new one takes place.
The gravel sidetrack is a one-way traffic detour controlled by lights.
The old bridge, built in 1929, will be demolished first and then the 15 metre long concrete and steel bridge will be built in its place.
At Woolomin, the old 1940s timber bridge over Duncans Creek just near the village will be pulled down to make way for a new 20-metre long bridge.
Preliminary work for the Woolomin bridge will start tomorrow with another sidetrack expected to be in place from next Wednesday to allow demolition work to start.
Give-way signs will control traffic on a single lane sidetrack there and Tamworth Regional Council is appealing for traffic to be aware of conditions and drive slowly and with care.
Forty-kilometre speed zones are in place for both sidetracks.
The two new bridges are the final two timber structures to be replaced on regional roads under the state government’s Timber Bridge Replacement Program and will cost $1.2million to build, with the program providing 50% funding and Council the balance.
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The contractor Civilbuild will work on both bridges at the same time and Council expects the concurrent program will mean they should both be finished and open to traffic in mid-March. TRC crews will undertake the sidetrack works and the road approaches.