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New Clarence Town Bridge

Dungog Shire Council was pleased to announce that it had successfully lobbied the state and federal governments to commit to building a new bridge for the Clarence Town community. The new bridge will be built adjacent to the heritage-listed Brig O'Johnston Bridge on Limeburners Creek Road, and will be a much welcome edition to the Clarence Town and wider Dungog community, who frequent this important thoroughfare to access other areas of the shire, and beyond.

The new structure will allow the return of heavy and wider vehicle access to Clarence Town after several years of detours required due to width and load capacity restrictions placed on the heritage listed Brig O’Johnston Bridge.

The project is also expected to improve:

• freight access and productivity;

• road safety; and

• access and for local industries.

The new bridge will feature a 2.5-metre-wide walkway/cycleway on its northern side. This cycleway represents a critical link in connecting the eastern residences and rural subdivisions directly to the town centre, and enhances the convenience and recreational activity for the Clarence Town community.

As part of the proposal, crossing points for cyclists and pedestians with signposting, blisters, etc are proposed within Clarence Town and on Limeburners Creek Road to assist with safe road crossing. While this cycleway is a great first step, it is also part of a broader, long-term goal to expand cycling and walking paths in this area.

Tenders for the design and construction of the new Clarence Town Bridge are expected to be advertised in coming months.

Project Information

Quick Look

The current funding breakdown is as follows:

• $5.5 million NSW Government Fixing Country Roads Program

• $9.581 million Federal Government

• $5.5 million Transport for NSW

Total project funding $20.581 million.

Current Stage: Pre-Tender

About the project

Scope of Works

The proposal is to construct a new bridge and associated road approaches:

• Bridge length approximately 135m;

• Two travel lanes (one in each direction) totalling 8.8m in width;

• Pedestrian walkway / cycleway;

• Bridge approaches;

• Pedestrian footpath, and

• Associated civil works.

Latest update

Thank you to the community members who came to our community information session in late April 2024. It was wonderful to present the project objectives to you and to receive your highly valued feedback.

The tender process for the design and construction of the bridge is anticipated to take several months, so we don’t anticipate there will be a lot of news to report. However as 2024 comes to a close and we approach the next phase of the development, we plan to provide the community with regular updates on this webpage, via social media and through our project newsletter (please subscribe to receive these updates directly to your inbox via the QR code below).

Project Timeline and Milestones

March 2024 Additional funding was secured from the Federal and NSW governments for the project. https://www.nsw.gov.au/media-releases/funding-approved-for-new-bridge-at-clarence-town

July 2024 Proposed Tender Advertisement

2025 Construction to commence

Brig O’Johnston Bridge

The Brig O’Johnston Bridge, built in 1880, is situated over the Williams River at Clarence Town. It is the oldest surviving timber truss bridge in NSW. The bridge is one of 26 bridges identified for conservation in the Transport for NSW Timber Truss Bridge Conservation Strategy, developed in consultation with the Heritage Council of NSW. The strategy was developed to address these structures' long-term management and aims to balance infrastructure provision and heritage conservation.

https://www.nsw.gov.au/visiting-and-exploring-nsw/locations-and-attractions/brig-ojohnston-bridge

Foreword: Dungog Shire Council Mayor, John Connors

On the behalf of Dungog Shire Council, we are pleased to finally deliver this critical piece of infrastructure for the people of Clarence Town.

We have been advocating heavily for this project across all levels of government for several years, and we're thrilled that we can finally deliver a safe, reliable and accessible bridge that the Clarence Town community deserves.

As a region, the Dungog shire has been identified as potentially needing 2400 residential homes by 2041, so it's great to know that the infrastructure on major arterial routes - such as the Clarence Town Bridge, will support this level of growth.

We're incredibly grateful to the NSW Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison and Federal Minister for Infrastructure Catherine King for working with us to make this asset a reality for the Dungog shire.

FAQ's

What is the timeline for the New Clarence Town Bridge project?

Council has commenced preliminary investigations, concept designs and engagement with all project stakeholders.

Currently, we are working on the tender scope and plan to go to market for prospective firms to design and construct the bridge, in the coming months. Once the successful tenderer has been awarded and announced, a firmer timeline of construction will be provided.

What will happen to the existing Brig O’Johnston Bridge.

The Brig O'Johnston Bridge will remain under the ownership of Transport for NSW, and they will oversee its rehabilitation and future use. As part of this project, the Brig O’Johnston Bridge will remain trafficable after rehabilitation works have been completed.

Will the existing Brig O’Johnston bridge be closed during construction?

The New Clarence Town Bridge will be constructed 20m upstream from the existing Brig O’Johnston Bridge. During construction, the contractor may require traffic control on the existing road and bridge to safely move traffic through the construction zone. There will likely be minor delays to traffic.

How will the construction of the new bridge impact local traffic?

During construction of the new Clarence Town Bridge, the Brig O’Johnston Bridge will remain open so that access is retained during construction. During construction, the contractor may require traffic control on the existing road and bridge to safely move traffic through the construction zone. There will likely be minor delays to traffic

Will loan limits stay in place on the Brig O’Johnston Bridge during construction of the new bridge?

Yes, the existing restrictions and subsequent detours will remain in place during the construction of the new Clarence Town Bridge.

Are there any environmental concerns associated with the bridge construction? What measures are being taken to mitigate environmental impacts?

Council has completed the preliminary environmental and heritage assessments. Environmental and Heritage impact studies and measures will be implemented by the successful contractor. Measures will be in place to avoid, reduce or mitigate any adverse impacts.

How will the new bridge improve transportation or connectivity in Clarence Town?

The current Brig O'Johnston Bridge is restricted to vehicles of up to 2.8 metres wide and can carry only one lane of traffic with a load restriction of 22.5 tonnes. On completion of the new Clarence Town Bridge, these load restrictions will be removed. The new structure will allow for the return of heavy and wider vehicle access to Clarence Town and the Dungog Shire Council area and will remove the current need for larger vehicles to detour up to 52 kilometres to bypass the existing bridge. The project is therefore expected to improve freight access and productivity, improve road safety and support local industries.

What is the budget for the bridge project, and how is it being funded?

The project’s $20.581 million budget is funded by the Federal and NSW Governments.

Will there be any opportunities for local businesses or contractors to be involved in the construction process?

Council will actively encourage the successful contractor to engage with local businesses. Once the tender has been awarded council recommends that local business approach the successful contractor to discuss possible opportunities.

How does the design of the new bridge consider the historical and cultural significance of the area?

During the project lifespan, council will respect the cultural and heritage significance of the surrounding Worimi land and the historic Brig O’Johnston structure. Council has undertaken an Aboriginal due diligence assessment of the area and is working with the Worimi Local Aboriginal Land Council to ensure all historical and cultural significances are retained.

As part of the Environmental assessments, a statement of heritage impact has been completed for the project. As a result, council has also been collaborating with Transport for NSW as the owner of the existing structure and Heritage NSW. As the existing bridge is the oldest surviving timber trust bridge in NSW, a requirement of the design of the new Clarence Town Bridge will be to minimise the visual impact on the heritage bridge.

How will pedestrian and cyclist access be accommodated in the new bridge design?

The new bridge design will include a single 2.5m wide pedestrian / cycle way on the upstream side of the new structure. The project will also include connecting footpaths leading away from the structure on both sides of the new bridge.

Are there any planned closures or disruptions to existing services or infrastructure during the construction phase?

Provision is being made for any existing utilities and services that are currently attached to the Brig O’Johnston bridge to be relocated into the design of the new Clarence Town Bridge. Council has been consulting with the affected utilities and services providers in this regard. As the project plans are developed, the project team will have a better understanding of any possible disruptions once construction has commenced. The community will be provided with information of any impacts before any disruptions take place.

How will the community be kept informed about the progress of the project and any changes to the plan?

Council will keep the community informed prior to and during the project. We encourage any community member who wishes to be updated on the project, to register their interest by subscribing to our Project communications database. We also encourage the community to stay up to date by regularly visiting this webpage, and we will also be providing regular updates via:

The Dungog Shire Council Facebook page

Mayor John Connor’s weekly Message from the Mayor (also available on the DSC Facebook page)

The monthly Council Happenings newsletter (you can subscribe here Dungog Shire Council (list-manage.com)

Direct project communication by subscribing to our mailing list (see above)

Project Timeline