Lithgow City Council has made a recent application for funding under the NSW Government Fixing Country Bridges program for the replacement of three timber bridges on Glen Davis Road.
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Glen Davis Road, connecting the Castlereagh Highway to the villages of Glen Alice and Glen Davis, currently features three single lane timber bridges each of which were constructed in the early 1940s.
Recent assessments predict that maintenance requirements for this ageing infrastructure will increase in the coming years.
With funding, Council engineers plan to replace Coco Creek, Crown Creek and Airlie Creek bridges with modern, dual-lane, concrete structures.
Council's director infrastructure services Jonathon Edgecombe said the replacement of the timber bridges would cost just over $5 million.
"However, this significant cost is offset by meeting Lithgow City Council's strategic objective of enhancing regional development by connecting people and places in growing regions," he said.
"By delivering improved rural community access and safety, Council is expanding on its targeted approach to delivering regional value through improved transport services and infrastructure that cater for the needs of the future."
Lithgow mayor Cr Ray Thompson said he was pleased Council was acting to seek the financial assistance required to upgrade the bridges.
"By prioritizing this project Council aims to reduce future maintenance obligations, improve service standards to the community and further promote all that Lithgow has to offer," he said.
Cr Thompson also wanted to thank Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW John Barilaro and Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole for their continued dedication to transport outcomes in regional and rural areas.
"Combined with the $1.83 million of joint Commonwealth, state and local funding allocated, I can't wait to see what the future holds."