The Hon. Sam Farraway, Minister for Regional Transport and Roads (NSW), Media Release, 8 October 2022
Work on the Nelligen Bridge Replacement project is steaming ahead with the new bridge now expected to be open to traffic by early 2023.
Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Sam Farraway said that the NSW Government committed $148 million for the new two-lane bridge on the Kings Highway over the Clyde River at Nelligen.
“It’s fantastic to share the news that the Nelligen Bridge is on track to be completed almost a year early, meaning road users are set to use this road sooner,” Mr Farraway said.
“The Kings Highway is one of the busiest roads in the region, which is why since 2011 the Liberals and Nationals Government has invested more than $200 million into building the infrastructure that matters, making this highway safer for families travelling to and from the south coast.
“We’re securing a brighter future for the more than 5000 locals, tourists and freight operators travelling this route daily though our Kings Highway upgrade program, by ensuring a faster and more reliable trip.”
Parliamentary Secretary for the South Coast Shelley Hancock said the new structure would increase safety for motorists, pedestrians and cyclists by providing an improved curve on the eastern side of the bridge, wider lanes and shoulders, and safety barriers between the road and footpath.
“There has been significant progress and I’m pleased to see the bridge nearing completion,” Ms Hancock said.
“The final deck pour on the concrete bridge deck was completed in July to create a solid base for the asphalt layer, which will start going down in November, weather permitting.
“Barriers and railings are now being installed for the safety of transport customers crossing the bridge with the focus to soon shift to earthworks to connect the new bridge with the existing Kings Highway.”
The remaining bridge railings will be completed in the coming months and work is being carried out to widen about 1.4 kilometres of the existing Kings Highway, which also includes upgrading and installing new road pavements and drainage.
The new bridge is expected to open early in 2023 with project completion, including upgrades to intersections to the Kings Highway and demolition of the existing bridge estimated to be complete by late 2023, weather permitting.
The community will be notified of traffic changes that will be in place in the lead up to, and following, the opening of the bridge.
More information on the Nelligen Bridge Replacement project is available at nswroads.work/NelligenBridge
