Eunony Bridge re-opens to traffic

Published: 04 Sep 2020 9:05am

Traffic is once again flowing over Wagga Wagga’s Eunony Bridge following six months and 40,000 ‘work-hours’ of construction works on the $10.6M project to widen and strengthen the structure.

Wagga Wagga City Council officially allowed traffic across the new structure at 6.00am on Wednesday (2 September 2020).

Council’s Construction Supervisor - Civil Infrastructure Projects Matt Casley, said work on the upgrade began in mid-February to make the bridge deck stronger and wider to enable the load limit to be lifted.

“In six months, we’ve built a SM1600 rated bridge that has a lifespan of 100 years, and which can take loads of up to 160 tonnes,” Mr Casley said.

“The increased capacity along this connection between the Sturt Highway and the Bomen Precinct will benefit existing business access to the Business Park and future infrastructure developments, such as the Riverina Intermodal Freight and Logistics (RiFL) Hub.

“The upgrade will also make a big difference for the broader Wagga community, who’ve experienced traffic disruption and an increase in the number of heavy vehicles travelling through the CBD during the project.”

A vehicle-count prior to the start of works identified around 4,400 daily movements across the bridge in both directions.

Mayor of the City of Wagga Wagga, Councillor Greg Conkey OAM, thanked the community, motorists and businesses for their patience during the construction.

“This has been a much-anticipated re-opening of an upgraded structure which will deliver major benefits for the city of Wagga Wagga,” Cr Conkey said.

“It provides a stronger, safer and more eastern crossing of the Murrumbidgee River and creates a new route for heavy vehicles that will help reduce heavy vehicle traffic in the CBD.”

BMD Constructions’ Project Manager Damian McConville said he was always aware of the strain the bridge’s closure placed on the community and the surrounding infrastructure.

“We wanted to minimise the amount of time the bridge would be closed and the only way we could do that was to implement a seven-day working week,” Mr McConville said.

“We estimate there were approximately 40,000 work-hours used on the project which is a massive amount for a project that’s only six months in length.

“This was a challenging project as the entire bridge design was a one-off. We had a bespoke formwork and a cantilever platform that was designed especially for us.

“To deliver a finished product that’s 50 per cent wider than the original bridge whilst using the same sub-structure is quite an achievement.”

Council received $9.8M in Federal and State government funding towards the project:

• $4.9 million - Federal Government’s Bridges Renewal Program; and
• $4.9 million - NSW Government’s Fixing Country Roads program.

Member for Wagga Dr Joe McGirr welcomed completion of the project, saying it was an “extraordinary effort” to get the project finished in six months.

“It’s a critical part of developing Wagga and the region and particularly the Bomen Precinct and the Intermodal Hub,” Dr McGirr said.

“I think the community can be well-pleased with this expenditure which I think will be part of that vision that will create jobs and prosperity for the region.