Construction is underway on the new Nambucca River Bridge, designed to improve travel times and freight efficiency on the Pacific Highway upgrade.
Who: Roads and Maritime Services NSW
What: Construction of a new bridge over the Nambucca River at Macksville as part of the $830m Warrell Creek to Nambucca Heads upgrade to the Pacific Highway.
Why: To improve road safety and travel times and improving freight efficiency.
How much: The construction of the Warrell Creek to Nambucca Heads upgrade is jointly funded by the Australian and New South Wales governments, with each providing $415 million.
The 850 metre Nambucca River bridge is being built to provide four lanes of traffic as part of the $830 million Warrell Creek to Nambucca Heads Pacific Highway duplication project.
Pre-cast concrete U-girders, more than 40 metres long and each weighing about 150 tonnes, will be used to form the bridge deck. In total 21 bridge spans will link the 20 twin, reinforced concrete piers that make up the bridge. Seven of the piers will be in the river. The new bridge will also have a navigation clearance of 11 metres.
Construction crew will use a 400-tonne crane and two 250-tonne cranes as well as a piling rig, barges, a tug boat and small work boats to complete the work. Two temporary jetties will also be constructed, one at the northern and southern end of the river, for loading materials onto the barges.
The resulting bridge will be located 1.2km east of the existing Macksville bridge, which only carries two lanes of traffic and will be retained as a link in the local road network. It is estimated that once complete, the Warrell Creek to Nambucca Heads upgrade will save commuters eight minutes off their journey.
Current status
The girder manufacturing facility is nearly established and temporary jetty access to the river is being built according to a Roads and Maritime Services spokesperson.
“Roads and Maritime Services is working closely with contractor Acciona Ferrovial Joint Venture to overcome engineering challenges including working above water and at heights in addition to minimising environmental impacts and changes to traffic conditions,” said the spokesperson.
River access will be maintained throughout the build via a closed access route. A speed limit of four knots will also be imposed for safety reasons.
About the project
The project received approval in July 2011 as part of the larger Warrell Creek to Urunga proposal. Construction began on the new bridge in mid-2015 and is scheduled for completion in 2017.
“The Warrell Creek to Nambucca Heads upgrade bypasses Macksville and will reduce the number of heavy vehicles passing through the town,” said Federal Member for Cowper Luke Hartsuyker.
“At 850 metres long the bridge will also span the northern floodplain to minimise flood impacts on Macksville and nearby properties.”
Image: Artist's impression of new Nambucca River Bridge