Bridge Upgrades

Works to replace the timber bridge crossing at Mahonys Gully on River Road, north of Nundle, progressed as scheduled in February 2026.

The works were the first of two stages planned along River Road to replace timber bridges with concrete box culverts.

The bridge at Mahonys Gully has been replaced with single cell concrete culverts.

The next stage of construction will be on a second timber bridge at Munro Creek. A date for that project is still to be finalised, and residents will be advised before construction commences.

The project is part of Tamworth Regional Council’s continuing program to replace ageing timber bridges with safer and more reliable structures across the region.

The new crossings will improve safety for road users, provide better vehicle access, and reduce long-term risks and maintenance costs. They have been made possible through Council’s Asset Renewal Fund.

Construction on the Boltons Creek Bridge on New Winton Road commenced in October 2024 and reopened to traffic in April 2025.

The single lane culvert system was replaced with a two-lane concrete bridge.

This project has been funded by the Australian Government’s Bridge Renewal Program and Council's Asset Renewal Fund.

Construction to replace the existing Burgmanns Lane waterway crossings with a new concrete bridge and box culvert began in April 2025.

Despite rain events, scheduling challenges with specialist contractors, and the replacement of unsuitable material at the culvert site, the road is expected to reopen to traffic in early April 2026, weather permitting.

These works, along with works at Bolton Creek on New Winton Road, have been made possible by $1,633,512 in funding from the Australian Government’s Bridges Renewal Program and $532,004 from Council’s Asset Renewal Fund.

The causeway located on Watsons Creek-Tilmunda Road, Bendemeer, which crosses at Watsons Creek, was damaged during flood events in 2021 and 2022 and requires new infrastructure to be constructed so the road can be reopened to traffic.

Council is confirming the funding for this replacement and will provide an update when that has been confirmed.

A concept design for the three Wallamore Road major culvert replacements have been completed and Council has submitted a grant application to the Federal Government for funding through the Safer Local Roads and Infrastructure Program.
Council is expecting a response to this funding application early in 2026.
Geotechnical investigations have been undertaken, and a detail survey was expected to be completed in late 2025.
A hydrological study and a review of environmental factors are both underway as Council await notification for funding approval.

The replacement of the Limestone Gully culvert, on Top Somerton Road, west of Attunga, is still in the early planning stages.

It is planned to be constructed within 2026-27 financial year.

Geotechnical investigations have been undertaken, and a detail survey is expected to be completed in first quarter of 2026. A hydrological study and a review of environmental factors are both underway as Council await notification for funding approval.

Recreation Bridge, located near the Weabonga Recreation Reserve on Limbri-Weabonga Road, just north of Weabonga, and Kiaora No 1 Bridge, on Rocky Gully Road, just west of the New England Highway intersection, are two of three remaining timber bridges in the current network. The other timber bridge is Munro Creek Bridge. Council is continuing to proactively replace these remaining bridges as budget and funding opportunities allow.

A temporary truss bridge was installed at the Somerton Bridge, on Somerton Road, after the northern bridge approach washed away in floodwaters in August 2025. The temporary bridge can carry up to HML B-double trucks and a longer-term fix will be further investigated once Council obtains disaster funding, which Council is actively seeking.