Do you travel near Crankies Plain Bridge, northeast of Bombala? Photo: Steve Whan Facebook.
The rebuild of a historic bridge near Bombola will come with a years-long detour.
Crankies Plain Bridge is one of only four remaining McDonald timber truss road bridges in NSW.
It dates to the early 1890s and continues to play an important role in the local transport network, connecting a series of arterial roads to the Monaro Highway.
It was also added to the State Heritage Register in June 2000.
However, the time has come for an upgrade.
The first stage of planning for the upgrade has focused on identifying a suitable detour route to maintain access for motorists in the area during construction.
Transport for NSW (TfNSW) has identified its preferred option (Black Lake Road) and is asking for feedback on the proposal.
This route would use Black Lake Road, which is an existing approved heavy vehicle corridor, and would add 30 minutes to travel time.
TfNSW also states it has no significant environmental or heritage impacts, and that there are plans to upgrade Black Lake Road.
An upgrade to Crankies Plain Road and a temporary bridge on either side of the existing bridge were also considered as options, but investigations found these would have greater environmental impacts and pose construction challenges.
They would also have a longer delivery timeframe and higher costs.
The single-lane bridge over the Coolumbooka River, along with other timber truss bridges in the state, is managed by TfNSW. Photo: Google Maps/Screenshot.
This upgraded structure is expected to increase the bridge’s load limit, support local industry and strengthen freight connections to the Monaro Highway and nearby towns.
Member for Monaro Steve Whan thanked the community for their feedback so far and encouraged them to have their say on the project’s next step.
“Crankies Plain Bridge has been part of Bombala’s history for more than a century, and this project will make sure it continues to serve the community safely for generations to come.
“This rebuild strikes the right balance between preserving our local heritage and delivering modern safety and freight improvements.”
People can complete an online survey or email their feedback to [email protected] before 14 December.
They can also attend in-person information sessions:
- Bombala and District Markets from 8 am to 2 pm on 22 November
- Bombala Community Centre from 4 to 7 pm on 25 November
- Maybe Street, Bombala (near the IGA) from 10 am to 2 pm, 26 November.
“There is no perfect time to rebuild Crankies Plain Bridge, but this work is essential to keep our roads safe and our communities connected,” Minister for Roads Jenny Aitchison said.
“I encourage everyone in the community to have their say on how they use the bridge and local roads, and how the preferred detour route might affect them.
“We understand some people would prefer to see a completely new bridge, but as a state heritage-listed structure, we must respect its historic value and meet heritage requirements through a rebuild.”
The project has an allocated budget of $37.2 million from the NSW Government’s High Priority Bridge and Slopes and Bridge Maintenance programs.
Once the feedback period has closed, TfNSW will review the submissions and confirm the chosen detour option in early 2026.
