New and improved Ridgewood Bridge opened to traffc

By Jeff Gibbs

Offcial Opening of the New Ridgewood Bridge Enhances Safety and Connectivity for Clunes and Rosebank Communities

The newly constructed Ridgewood Bridge, located just outside Clunes, was offcially opened to traffc this week, marking a signifcant milestone in improving safety and connectivity for motorists and the surrounding community.

Originally built in the 1960s, the old bridge had undergone numerous major repairs but had reached the end of its serviceable life. The $4.3 million project, a joint initiative between the NSW Government and Lismore City Council, involved the efforts of over 30 local subcontractors, suppliers, and workers during construction.

A spokesperson for Lismore City Council highlighted the bridge’s importance as a vital link between Clunes and

Rosebank. “This new bridge is a tremendous asset for the Clunes and Rosebank communities, as well as the broader region. It signifcantly enhances the bridge’s resilience to future fooding and reduces the risk of community isolation. Additionally, it ensures that local farmers can effciently transport their produce to market and improves connectivity throughout our Local Government Area,” they said.

The new structure is a two-span, 8-meterlong concrete bridge supported by driven steel pile foundations, offering unhindered clearance over Coopers Creek. The deck height of the new bridge is also 1.8 meters higher than its predecessor, providing better protection against fooding.

Davbridge Constructions Pty Ltd was contracted by the Council to build the bridge.

State Member for Lismore and NSW Parliamentary Secretary for Disaster Recovery, Janelle Saffn, who attended the offcial opening, praised the project as an exemplary case of infrastructure betterment. “Instead of continuing to patch up a 60-year-old timber bridge, Lismore City Council and the NSW Government collaborated to construct a concrete and steel bridge designed to last 100 years,” Ms. Saffn said.

“Mackie Road, which serves around 400 vehicles daily, will see increased traffc in the future. The new Ridgewood Bridge, with its higher, wider design, offers greater resilience during foods and bushfres. I commend Davbridge Constructions Pty Ltd for delivering a superior bridge that will beneft the Clunes and Rosebank communities.”

During construction, the new bridge was built alongside the existing one to ensure continuous access for motorists.

The old bridge will be demolished once the Rous County Council relocates the water main to the new structure and the creek banks are rehabilitated.

The project was funded jointly by the NSW Government’s Fixing Country Bridges program and Lismore City Council.