Restoring access - Eurobodalla Valley bridges

The Eurobodalla Valley was isolated after the 2019 New Year's Eve bushfires destroyed four timber bridges and damaged another four. Our teams were soon out on Eurobodalla Road and on to Cadgee and Nerrigundah assessing the damage and restoring access.

Three of the bridges simply required repairs to the timber decks to get vehicles crossing safely again. Others took a lot more work. Our crews worked quickly to create temporary side tracks around the destroyed bridges. We have now rebuilt all but one of the bridges with permanent, fire and flood resilient concrete structures. It's been a big job and we are nearly done.

Transport for NSW agreed to replace many of the bridges using more resilient InQuik Bridging Systems. The semi-modular steel and concrete bridging systems reduce project cost and complexity and are relatively quick to install.

Check out the progress so far.

Cheese Factory Bridge

Current status: Permanent access restored

The damage: Some deck timbers burnt

The work: Our bridge crew removed and replaced the burnt timbers to enable safe passage. We then replaced the bridge using the InQuik Bridging System.

Image A low single span timber bridge crosses over a creek.
Pre-fire: The single span bridge before the fire
Image The bridge deck timbers are burnt
January 2020: The deck timbers were burnt in the 31 December bushfire
Image The bridge crew work to repair the damaged bridge
January 2020: Repair work was soon underway
Image New deck timbers are on the timber bridge
January 2020: Safe access restored
Image Geotech fabric lines the edge of the creek while a roller compacts road base on the approach for the new bridge
July 2020: Work begins on the approach for the new bridge
Image A drone photo shows a new bridge under construction alongside the sold timber bridge
August 2020: The InQuik bridge components have been craned into place
Image A new aluminium and concrete bridge sits higher than the old bridge
August 2020: The concrete is poured, forming the new bridge surface
Image A concrete bridge is lined with guardrail
October 2020: The new bridge was opened to traffic on 6 October
Image An aerial image shows a bridge lined with guardrail crossing a creek in a grassy area.
November 2020: Guardrail lines the finished InQuik bridge
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Reedy Creek Bridge

Current status: Permanent access restored

The damage: Completely destroyed

The work: We created a side track until the bridge was replaced using the InQuik Bridging System.

Image The timber bridge sits in a green setting
Pre-fire: The timber bridge was surrounded by foliage
Image All the bridge timbers are burnt and have collapsed
January 2020: The fire totally destroyed the bridge leaving a gaping hole in the road
Image Flood waters wash away the temporary track across the creek
February 2020: Flood waters destroyed a temporary crossing built in January
Image a piped culvert sits in the creek with a road above
March 2020: A more substantial side track provides access until the bridge is replaced
Image A tractor restores the material forming a creek crossing
July 2020: The crossing copped a battering from flood waters but was soon restored
Image Railing is on place alongside the steel mesh that will provide strength for the concrete deck
November 2020: Construction of the new bridge is underway with the abutments in place and formwork prepped for the deck
Image A new bridge with guardrail is positioned on a winding dirt road
January 2021: The new bridge is open to traffic
Image A bridge lined with guardrail crossed over a creek with a rocky embankment..
The final product: Guardrail lines the modular bridge providing the finishing touch
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Peach Tree Bridge

Current status: Permanent access restored

The damage: Completely destroyed

The work: We created a side track to provide access until the bridge was replaced using the InQuik Bridging System

Image The timber bridge sits in a green setting
Pre-fire: The timber bridge nestled into the bushland
Image The bridge is completely burnt leaving a gapping hole in the road.
January 2020: The damaged bridge.
Image A temporary track to the side of the destroyed bridge provides access across the creek
March 2020: A temporary side track provides access
Image A section of bridge deck is lowered into place
November 2020: Construction of the new bridge is underway and a section of the new deck is lowered into place
Image Guard rail lines both sides of a bridge on a straight dirt road
February 2021: The new bridge is open!
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Murphys Bridge

Current status: Open to local residents under traffic control

The damage: The majority of the bridge was destroyed

The plan: HD Civil began construction of a more resilient concrete bridge in October 2021. Wet weather and continuing high river flows hindered progress. The Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements is funding the new five span, 68m long bridge.

Image The long timber bridge crosses the Tuross River in a lush setting
Pre-fire: The bridge sat solidly above the Tuross River
Image THe bridge is severely burnt and not much remains
January 2020: Not much was left of the bridge, but at least the lack of rain allowed vehicles to pass
Image Large pipes and sand lay along the river bed providing temporary access.
Late-January 2020: A side track was strengthened with large steel pipes and gravel so vehicles could pass through
Image The side track has been washed away after the river flooded
March 2020: Heavy rain and flood waters in February washed away the temporary track
Image A crane truck lowers a large prefabricated modular section of a bridge onto the ground.
August 2021: Components of the new bridge have been prefabricated and are on their way to site
Image Heavy machinery sits in a construction site alongside a creek
November 2021: A huge a drill rig installs the foundations for the new bridge
Image A river is in flood in a bushland setting
February 2022: After a brief opportunity to continue the rebuild, the river flooded
Image Foundations for a bridge rise from a riverbed.
June 2022: The rain eased up just enough to allow the contractor to get back on the job in May. By the end of June the foundations were in place.
Image People work on a concrete bridge under construction in a rural setting.
August 2022: The concrete is laid to form the new bridge deck
Image A long concrete bridge crosses a river in a rural setting
Late August 2022: The concrete approaches are built and local residents can use the bridge!
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Sinclairs Bridge

Current status: Permanent access restored

The damage: Partly destroyed

The work: We replaced the bridge using an InQuik Bridging System

Image The timber bridge sits in a green setting
Pre-fire: The single span bridge in lush farmland
Image The timber bridge has relatively small burnt areas
January 2020: The damage was relatively minor in comparison to the other bridges
Image A dirt road with a timber bridge winds through green farmland
May 2020: The repaired bridge leads commuters into the green farmland beyond
Image Three steel piles stand tall at the end of the bridge
July 2020: Construction of the new bridge is underway
Image A drone photo shows construction on both sides of the creek
August 2020: The new abutments are in place either side of the creek
Image A crane lifts a section of bridge
August 2020: The new InQuik bridge components are craned into position
Image Men tie reinforcing steel in the aluminium bridge
August 2020: Steel reinforcing mesh is prepped for the concrete pour
Image Freshly poured concrete forms the new bridge surface
August 2020: Concrete provides a finished surface for the new bridge
Image Guardrail aligns a new bridge on a dirt road.
August 2020: The new bridge is finished and opened to traffic on 28 August
Image A single span bridge crosses a creek amid green paddocks
October 2020: Warm Spring weather has enabled the grass to take hold
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Gulph Creek Bridge

Current status: Permanent access restored

The damage: Most of the deck timbers were burnt

The work: We removed and replaced the kerb logs and deck timbers, then replaced the bridge using the InQuik Bridging System

Image Gulph Creek Bridge is surrounded by lush green vegetation
Pre-fire: The bridge typically sat in a lush bushy setting
Image THe timber bridge is largely burnt along each side
January 2020: Most of the deck timbers were burnt
Image The burnt deck timbers are being removed
January 2020: Our bridge crew was quick to replace the burnt supporting girders and deck timbers
Image The repaired bridge sits in in a burnt out setting
Mid-January 2020: The bridge looks new albeit in an altered setting
Image A mobile crane lowers a steel bridge abutment into place.
August 2020: The old bridge has been demolished and the new abutments are in place
Image Two men inspect the steel reo mesh supported by aluminum abutments
October 2020: Reinforcement for the concrete deck is prepared
Image A concrete boom pumps concrete into place to form the new bridge deck
October 2020: A boom pumps concrete into the bridge formwork
Image Road signs and guard rail guide motorists across a concrete bridge.
November 2020: The bridge was open to traffic in November 2020
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Comans Bridge

Current status: Permanent access restored

The damage: Completely destroyed

The work: We created a side track until the bridge was replaced with box culverts

Image The timber bridge sits in a green setting
Pre-fire: The single span timber bridge originally sat in a lush setting
Image The low bridge is completely burnt
January 2020: Fire destroyed the entire timber deck and a side track was established
Image Flood waters cover the burnt remains of the bridge
Early February 2020: Rising flood waters blocked access
Image Pipes and sandbags help form a temporary track over muddy waters
Mid-February 2020: A more durable side track was constructed after the flood
Image Concrete is being poured from a truck into a hole prepared by an excavator
May 2020: Work to build the box culverts is underway and a concrete base is being formed
Image Loosely laid gravel forms rough road over concrete culverts
June 2020: The side track has been removed, and the culverts are in place
Image Three concrete box culverts support the gravel road above
June 2020: Box culverts support the gravel road and access is restored on 29 June
Image dirt track leads through a forest recovering from fire.
The finished product: The guardrail lines the road through the recovering forest
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Clarksons Bridge

Current status: Open

The damage: Some deck timbers and structural timbers were burnt

The work: Our engineers assessed the damage and the burnt deck timbers were replaced.

The plan: Monitor the bridge regularly until it is replaced using funding from The Fixing Bridges program.

Image The timber bridge bearer is burnt
January 2020: Fortunately the bridge survived the fire

Other areas

More info

For more information about restoring access, please contact Council: