02-06-2025
The newly constructed Burra Burra Creek Bridge in Curraweela has opened to the public, thanks to collaborative funding from the New South Wales Government Restart NSW funding infrastructure grant program, along with a financial contribution from the Upper Lachlan Shire Council.
Located on Tablelands Way – MR256 Taralga to Oberon Road, Burra Burra Creek Bridge in Curraweela is a vital inland tourist and freight route through the Upper Lachlan Shire to Oberon and onto other areas in the Central West region, connecting Canberra with the Hunter Valley
The bridge also allows residents of northern Curraweela to travel confidently to work, school, and appointments, ensuring their safe return home each evening.
Community resident, Frank Startari, expressed his satisfaction with the new bridge in a comment to the Goulburn Post: “I’m very pleased with the bridge; Council did a great job. It was a difficult project, but the Upper Lachlan Shire Council made it happen.”
The new $3.4 million bridge, funded by the NSW Government and Council, features two 3.5-metre lanes and has a load limit of 160 tonnes. The bridge was designed and constructed by Bridge and Marine Engineering. The new 400-metre long and 10-metre wide road approaches, eliminate a previously dangerous curve and replaces a low lying causeway that was regularly subject to flooding.
The bridge initially opened to one lane of traffic in March 2025 and is now fully operational, following the completion of bitumen sealing and line marking. Mr. Startari noted that residents were thrilled with the project’s completion, especially considering traffic counts indicate approximately 1,600 vehicles use Tablelands Way daily.
Designed to withstand a one-in-100-year flood, the bridge exemplifies Council’s commitment to residents in the Upper Lachlan Shire. “Council consulted with the community on various aspects of the bridge project. They sought our input for submissions to the NSW Government, consulted on design features, and kept us informed about progress at every stage. It wasn’t an easy project and faced numerous hurdles, but Council staff persevered and found solutions to keep things moving forward,” he added.
Council CEO Alex Waldron stated, “Projects like this are critical to keeping our community safe, which is the Council’s number one priority. We all deserve to leave home safely and return.” She also remarked, “Large infrastructure projects are challenging to manage due to many moving parts. I am incredibly proud of Council for delivering safer infrastructure that will last for generations.”
This new bridge marks the fifth “InQuik” bridge constructed within the Shire, highlighting the Council’s ongoing commitment to enhancing transportation networks.
The bridge’s load rating has been designed to futureproof the road network, ensuring it can support increased traffic and facilitate agricultural activities more effectively.
The development of the new bridge represents a substantial investment by the NSW Government and Council in the community’s infrastructure, benefiting both local farmers and residents alike and assists in facilitating tourist visitation to the Upper Lachlan Shire.