Council celebrates as state announces funding for Clarence Town Bridge

This comes after the NSW State Government confirmed its portion of funding for the Clarence Town Bridge Replacement Project.

Announced on Thursday, March 7, Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison said the state government will provide $11 million in funding.

"I recently visited Dungog and the growing need for a new bridge was clear to me," Ms Aitchison said.

"The key driver for this project is to provide uninhibited access and egress for heavy vehicles into the Dungog Shire area. It will also provide a freight link from the Pacific Highway and the Bucketts Way into rural agricultural areas of Dungog, Vacy and East Gresford.

"Many of the region's agricultural industries will benefit from larger, more productive freight transport into this area."

Total funding for the project is $20.6 million with $11 million coming from the state government and $9.581 million coming from the federal government.

Now that the funding has been confirmed the project will go to tender through Dungog Council. Ms Aitchison said that she is hoping to get construction started before the end of the year.

The new bridge, set to be located alongside the Brig O'Johnston Bridge, will also cater for wider vehicles unlike the Brig O'Johnston Bridge which is restricted to vehicles 2.8 metres wide. The project will also include a pedestrian walkway.

Although the replacement bridge is expected to take the brunt of the traffic the Brig O'Johnston Bridge will be maintained and rehabilitated as a heritage bridge.

The struggle for the Clarence Town Bridge Replacement Project has been ongoing since an accident caused the bridge to temporarily close in July, 2023.

In November of 2023 the federal government confirmed its half of funding, however, it has taken until now for the state government to confirm their half, leaving the bridge project in limbo until now.

Ms Aitchison said that this was due to a "complicated funding process" and that the funding had been announced as a result of advocacy from Dungog Mayor Cr John Connors.

"Dungog Council, Steve Lowe our deputy mayor and numerous others have put in a mountain of work over the years to get this bridge," Cr Connors said.

"The bailey structure has been there for about 20 years in total and for that 20 years there's been a need to replace the bridge. The need was highlighted a few months ago when damage was done by an oversize vehicle.

"The bridge is the link between a very rapidly developing area across the other side of the river, and lots of residential properties, with the town itself. It's also critical in that it's the route from here to the airport which is growing daily."