The new Dubbo Bridge is coming together, with one third of the concrete deck now in place.
The Federal and New South Wales Governments are investing $263.2 million to deliver this project on the Newell Highway in Dubbo.
The Federal Government has committed $210.6 million towards the project, with the New South Wales Government committing the remaining $52.6 million.
Decking along the 660m bridge structure is being built in sections, with each section involving the pouring of about 105m³ of concrete to provide a deck slab of up to 25cm in depth.
The deck pours will be carried out progressively while the rest of the bridge takes shape, with the final deck pour expected in mid-2025.
Once the concrete deck is completed, the final step in building the bridge surface will be to add an 8cm thick layer of asphalt.
Pile driving was recently completed along the entire length of the new structure which crosses the Macquarie River and a section of the floodplain east of the river.
Construction is also underway for the network of roads that will link the bridge to the Dubbo road network, including road widening work at the intersections of Whylandra and Thompson streets and River and Bourke streets.
The New Dubbo Bridge project is due to be completed in late 2026, weather permitting.
Federal Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister, Catherine King, said, “It is exciting to see the new bridge rapidly taking shape and I’m proud to see the Federal and New South Wales Governments’ investments delivering for regional communities.
“New infrastructure like this is critical for the growth of regional communities and it will set Dubbo and western NSW up for the future.”
New South Wales Regional Transport and Roads Minister, Jenny Aitchison, said, the project is supporting nearly 1,500 direct and indirect jobs in western New South Wales.
“This bridge will provide vital flood resilience and unlock more housing in Dubbo – providing essential infrastructure for an estimated 5,500 homes,” Ms Aitchison said.
“On my recent visit to see the bridge I saw how transformative this bridge will be to Dubbo and I thank the workers who have given so much to this project and I thank the people of Dubbo for their patience.”
Senator for New South Wales, Deborah O’Neill, said, “Once completed, the New Dubbo Bridge will transform the way western NSW residents, tourists and freight operators travel through Dubbo.
“The Bridge will reduce travel times in the city centre and improve access across the Macquarie River, particularly during flood events.”
Image: John Carnemolla/shutterstock.com
