Project Overview:
The Fixing Country Bridges Program in NSW is a $500 million initiative. This program, managed by Transport for NSW, aims to replace ageing timber bridges in poor condition across regional and rural areas of NSW. It provides funding to local councils to replace these bridges and improve connectivity for regional and rural communities.
Project Description:
Quickway were engaged with Byron Shire Council as part of the Fixing Country Bridges Program. The works involved the demolition of 3 no. existing timber bridges as well as the Design and Construction of 3 no. new bridges with side tracks and 20m of road approaches for each.
The spans/dimensions of each of the 3 bridges were:
- Englishes Bridge – 32 metres long x 4.9 metres wide
- Sherrington’s Bridge – 16 metres long x 4.9 metres wide
- Upper Main Arm Bridge – 9 metres long x 4.9 metres wide
The bridges were in remote locations with challenging geotechnical and hydrological conditions.
The scope of the emergency works included:
- Clearing and stabilisation of minor landslips
- Reconstruction and replacement of drainage structures
- Construction of temporary bridges and creek crossings
- Reinstatement of roadways and open channels
Key Challenges/Highlights:
- Design: the design was completed very efficiently in partnership with our design partner for the project, Peter Lowndes Consulting Engineers, who has extensive design experience to various clients and standards/specifications across Australia.
- Community: Quickway constructed temporary causeway structures in order to provide access/egress to the properties of many community members, following the severe flood events in northern NSW in 2021 and 2022, prior to construction of the new bridges.
- Environmental: despite ongoing weather events during the completion of the works, Quickway worked relentlessly, while working in environmentally sensitive and dynamic waterways prone to flooding. No environmental incidents occurred during the works, despite the location of the works.
- Program: The project was completed three weeks prior to the contractual completion date.
- Safety: Successful audit through NSW Reconstruction Authority
- Quality: Full D&C delivered defect free, with successful handover of all bridges scope including executed As-Built drawings and quality documentation to a high standard.