Work has begun on the new Lignum Creek bridge upgrade in Cootamundra, New South Wales (NSW), Australia.

Located 60km west of Grenfell, the project will see a replacement of the bridge positioned along the Mid-Western Highway.

The NSW Government has provided A$6.7m ($4.9m) for the Lignum Creek bridge upgrade under the Bridges for the Bush programme.

The project will include the demolition of the existing wooden bridge to replace it with a wider 72m-long concrete bridge that can better accommodate heavy vehicles.

“About 150 vehicles travel along this section of road each day, including 45 heavy vehicles, which make up 32% of traffic.”

Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said: “The existing bridge was built in 1937 and is narrow, in poor condition and nearing the end of its life. A new bridge is needed to improve road user safety and reduce ongoing maintenance costs.

“About 150 vehicles travel along this section of road each day, including 45 heavy vehicles, which make up 32% of traffic. As the old timber pier and pile bridge are on a straight road alignment in a 100km/h zone, the ride across it is notoriously rough.

“Motorists and particularly heavy-vehicle operators will enjoy a much smoother ride across the longer, wider concrete bridge when it is completed and opened to traffic in mid-2019.”

The project will employ 16 people, with six during bridge construction and up to ten during road construction.

The Lignum Creek bridge upgrade is due to be completed by next year.

Cooke added that a bypass track has already been built to divert traffic during work on the new bridge. This will help to ensure there are as few traffic disruptions as possible along the Mid-Western Highway.