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04 September 2022, 12:00 PM
Information from Transport for NSW June community update:
What we’re planning
Transport for NSW is planning essential maintenance work to repair and strengthen Tooleybuc Bridge. This work will ensure the structure remains safe and continues to be an important link for communities and freight across the Murray River.
What we heard
Earlier this month, we asked for the community’s feedback on four potential maintenance options. About 60 per cent of the community preferred shift closures over full bridge closure.
We considered all preferences and comments and believe a few tweaks to Option 1 balances project duration and impacts. We thank the community for having their say and sharing their thoughts, concerns and further background.
What you need to know
Work will be carried out from 4.30pm to midnight, Sunday to Thursday nights from Sunday 24 July. We will be working as quickly as possible and expect to be completed in six weeks, weather permitting. We will be setting up the site from Monday 18 July with no impacts to traffic.
What you need to know
The bridge will be open each weekend from midnight Thursday night to 4.30pm Sundays, and from midnight to 4.30pm during the week.
Between 4.30pm and midnight Sunday to Thursday, all vehicles will be detoured. Light and heavy vehicles will be detoured via Nyah Bridge, accessed via Stony Crossing Road and Speewa Road, adding an extra 30 minutes to journeys. For vehicles over 4.1 metres in height, Swan Hill Bridge, accessed via Stony Crossing Road and Swan Hill Road, will add an extra one hour to journeys.
This option puts the steel support frame – known as the Bailey – replacement on hold for up to 12 months while we monitor the bridge, unless urgently required. The Bailey work may require some form of full bridge closure of up to four weeks in the future however, we are currently investigating ways to minimise impacts of this work on the community.
We heard school students and buses were a key priority, so this work allows school buses to run normally throughout the construction period, with no changes for students or additional time spent on buses.
The work includes piling which is very noisy. We will make every effort to minimise noise impacts. Noisiest work will be completed before 10pm each night, however there will be general construction noise throughout each shift.
The Murray River main channel and lift span will remain open during the project. River guidance devices will be in place to guide maritime vessels safely through the waterway.
We acknowledge the community’s calls for a temporary bridge to limit construction impacts. Building a temporary bridge requires the same degree of planning and approvals as any other structure, including environmental, geotechnical and heritage. While this is an efficient way to minimise impacts on long-term projects, it can take more than a year to plan and several months to launch the bridge. The current need for maintenance does not allow time for a temporary bridge.
We understand the community’s disappointment in progress on a new bridge at Tooleybuc following heritage and prioritisation changes. While a new bridge is not off the table in the future, it is a longer-term project.
We thank the community for their patience while we carry out this important work.
For the latest traffic updates, download the Live Traffic NSW App and visit livetraffic.com or call 132 701.
Contact us
If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact our project team:
Email: murrayrivercrossing@transport.nsw.gov.au
Phone: 1300 679 842
Web: nswroads.work/tooleybuc