Martinsville Bridges Replacement project
We replaced three bridges in Martinsville to improve safety for motorists and access for emergency services vehicles.
The northern area of Martinsville valley is home to about 50 semi-rural properties, all serviced by Owens Road.
Owens Road crosses two bridges known as ‘Bridge 227’ and ‘Bridge 228’ on the northern route.
All road traffic into the valley must cross these two bridges as they provide the only access route for residents, service and emergency vehicles.
The former Bridge 227 was a 6m span timber bridge over an unnamed creek which was repaired in 2016.
The former Bridge 228 was a 22m single lane timber bridge constructed in the 1900s. It was originally designed to carry light vehicles and provide access to the north branch of the Martinsville valley.
Above: the old bridge was in a deteriorated state.
Due to the increased loads of modern heavy vehicles and the natural weathering of exposed timber components, these bridges needed to be replaced along with a 9m single lane four span timber bridge, at the eastern end of Pointers Road.
Council appointed Daracon to lead the replacement works for the two bridges on Owens Road, and Toisch Pty Ltd for the Pointers Road project.
An official opening was held on 14 March to mark the completion of these works, which have improved access for cars, heavy vehicles and emergency services.
The more than $11.8 million project was funded by over $7.5 million from the Australian Government’s Safer Local Roads and Infrastructure program.
Other funding partners are Lake Macquarie City which contributed over $2.6 million to the project, while the New South Wales Government has provided more than $1.6 million under the Fixing Country Roads funding program for the Owens Road Bridge.
Above: The new widened bridge.
Benefits
- Longer lasting, stronger bridge
- Improving road user safety through wider travel lanes and improved approaches
- Better access for emergency services vehicles
- Reduced ongoing maintenance costs
Timeline
- 2019-2023: Investigation, options analysis, concept designs and funding applications completed
- Late 2023: Tender released to market
- February 2024 – Early 2025: Construction
- March 2025 - Completed
Will load limits still apply to the bridges?
No. The safety improvements to the two Owens Road bridges will allow two-way heavy vehicle flow, without any load limits in place.
How is the heritage status of Bridge 228 being managed throughout the project?
While Bridge 228 is listed as a local heritage item within the 2014 Lake Macquarie Local Environmental Plan, the deteriorating state of the bridge is a safety concern.
Council investigated a range of options to replace the bridge including maintaining the existing bridge; however, a full replacement of the bridge was determined to be the best option based on environmental impact, construction methodologies and cost.
Further repairs and rehabilitation of the timber bridge are no longer feasible or cost effective due to the extent of the deterioration.
Council’s preferred solution is to construct a replacement two-lane bridge over the footprint of the existing bridge.
Council is sensitive to the historical values of the structures and will consider opportunities for beneficial reuse of reclaimed bridge timbers during the planning process.
Council will also preserve a photographic record of the original bridge and has appointed a structural draftsman to re-create drawings of the original design.
Didn’t Council close Bridge 228 a few years ago to repair it?
In late 2020, load limits were introduced on the bridge that prevented waste collection and bus services and affected access for emergency services, including Rural Fire Service vehicles. Emergency strengthening works were undertaken to restore access for most essential services.
These strengthening works were temporary and did not provide sufficient capacity for heavy vehicles or meet Australian Standard specifications. The ageing bridge has now been replaced with modern designs that meet current standards and allow for removal of the existing load limits.
The bridge provides critical access from Martinsville Rural Fire Service station to properties and fire trails to the north, prioritising its functionality.