At the official opening of the Emu Crossing Bridge is Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall, Emu Crossing Bridge Committee member James Harris, Mel Lowell, Steve Kellett, David Lowell, Spencer Hall, Stuart Berryman, Main Roads Minister Duncan Gay and Deputy Mayor Cr Bob Crouch.
MINISTER for Roads Duncan Gay and Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall today officially opened and dedicated the new Emu Crossing Bridge on Thunderbolts way at Bundarra, 96 years after the original ‘temporary’ crossing was completed.
Minister Gay said the NSW Government committed $3.5 million towards the $4.2 million project, jointly funded with Uralla Shire Council.
“This is a momentous occasion for the community who have been patiently waiting for more than 70 years for this new bridge to be funded – and here we are, as promised, delivering a new bigger, better and more reliable crossing,” Mr Gay said.
“The new bridge is located on a major arterial freight route in the north west of the state, and provides a link for motorists and freight travelling between the towns of Bundarra, Bingara, Warialda and Inverell to regional centres such as Armidale and beyond.
“This crossing is going to provide significant benefits to farmers, freight operators, local residents and businesses alike.”
Mr Marshall said the 150-metre long bridge was built almost 12 metres higher than the old crossing to provide safe clearance in one-in-50-year flood events.
“This bridge is a fantastic outcome for the community and a testament to the good work which can be achieved when state and local governments and the community partner together,” Mr Marshall said.
“Before this project was completed, every time the old bridge closed from a flooding event, motorists had to travel via a 95 kilometre detour, significantly increasing travel times.
“The great news is that the new bridge eliminates that issue as well as improves safety for motorists, with about 1.6 kilometres of new road and straighter approaches.”
Mr Marshall congratulated the community on a passionate and sustained campaign for the bridge and Uralla Shire Council for the competent manner in which it delivered the major project.
The MP said a total of 16 girders and more than 1,000 cubic metres of concrete were used to build the modern structure.
“I am very pleased that the new bridge will retain the unique and famous name and that the old 1919 single lane crossing will proudly remain in place as a piece of Bundarra’s history,” Mr Marshall said.
Mr Marshall and Uralla Shire Mayor Michael Pearce presented signed and framed certificates of appreciation to all members of the Bundarra community’s bridge committee, in recognition of their efforts to secure government funding for the construction of the new bridge