Wallaga Lake Bridge will be closed day and night for the next three weeks. Photo: TfNSW.
Wallaga Lake Bridge’s temporary re-opening has been short-lived, with the next stage of replacement works kicking off today (8 July).
Extensive works on the historic bridge, located between Bermagui and Tilba, have been flagged all year, and motorists were given an alternative route via Cobargo Bermagui Road and the Princes Highway.
Transport for NSW advised that this latest closure will see the bridge closed day and night for three weeks (weather permitting and including weekends). Workers are coming from Bega, the Illawarra, Goulburn and Wagga Wagga to make sure the project is completed “efficiently” and “safely”.
“This next stage of the work involves removing and replacing the bridge superstructure elements,” it stated.
“During this stage, large elements of the bridge will be removed and replaced with new, prefabricated timber.”
There is a temporary pedestrian walkway for access to the bridge, along with a free bus service.
Transport for NSW said since the bridge’s temporary re-opening in late May, the new timber elements had been delivered to the site. Workers had also been managing the microbat population and installing pontoon scaffolding for the bridge’s pedestrian access for this latest closure.
“Access will be restricted to foot traffic only as the walkway will be narrow. Pedestrians can carry a bicycle, folded pram or stroller across the bridge provided it can be done safely,” it stated.
“For safety reasons, wheelchair access will not be permitted. Temporary lighting will be installed to assist pedestrians in safely crossing the bridge at night.”
Pedestrians may have to wait for workers to ensure the site is safe to pass through before access is granted.
As for the temporary free bus service, it will run from 7 am to 6 pm daily. There are three bus routes connecting Narooma, Central Tilba, Akolele, Cobargo, Bermagui and Wallaga Lake Heights.
All buses will be wheelchair accessible, but they can only pick up wheelchair users from designated stops.
School buses will operate on the same adjusted timetable as they did during the first closure.
Children travelling to school will only be impacted for one week, with the adjusted timetable in place from Monday, 22 July, to Friday, 26 July.
The bridge is slated to re-open on Monday, 29 July, under stop/slow traffic control conditions (weather dependent).
Finishing work will then be completed, including replacing the girders, headstocks, cross beams, corbels, railings and kerbs.
Transport for NSW advised that this work would be noisy, but efforts will be made to minimise the impact.
Once this has been completed, the final stage of work will begin, which includes replacing the road pavement, water and sewer services, and installing handrails.
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