Repairs to the Baradine Bridge near Gwabegar will be included in the next Narrabri Shire Council budget.
Last month the condition of the aged, five span timber bridge, which was built in 1940, was the subject of concern in council.
Councillors said the bridge was showing its age and shook alarmingly when heavy vehicles crossed.
A consultants’ report on the safety and stability of the bridge was sought and the survey, undertaken last year, was tabled at the April meeting of council.
Repairs to the Baradine bridge are estimated to cost $134,754. A replacement, reinforced concrete bridge would cost $624,048. The Baradine bridge was one of 16 Shire bridges which were the subject of a survey by consultants in March last year.
The defects noted in the consultants’ report were monitored by council Road Services staff and minor maintenance had been undertaken, council was told at last meeting. However, the consultants’ report identified six of the 16 bridges as having ‘high risk defects’ requiring urgent maintenance.
The six bridges which the consultants said need immediate attention are Barney’s Spring Creek bridge, Harparary bridge over the Namoi, Tullamullen Creek bridge, Horse Arm Creek bridge, Eulah Creek bridge and the Baradine bridge.
“The Baradine bridge was identified as the highest risk and the first priority for repairs,” Council’s road services manager reported.
“The Baradine bridge defects relate mainly to the bridge rails and approaches rather than the structural stability of the bridge.
“The bridge has been assessed as being in fair overall condition.”
The consultants’ report said that the estimated cost to repair all the ‘high risk’ bridges was $1,365,939. The council included the cost of repairs to shire bridges in its list of projects for which funds are sought in the Regional Infrastructure Priorities list, which was recently endorsed by Namoi councils.
Apart from the six shire bridges identified as needing prompt attention, the other ten inspected, and which need varying degrees of work, include Bullawa Creek bridge (on Eulah Creek), Congregah Creek, Long Gully, Thalaba Creek, the Violet Street bridge, Brigalow Creek, Bullawa Creek (on Kaputar Road), Dubbo Creek and Spring Creek.
An analysis which lists the priority for a repair strategy puts Baradine at the top, Horse Arm Creek bridge second and Bullawa Creek at the bottom.
The kinds of repairs needed relate to a range of issues from holes on the road approaches to damaged guard rails, damaged or missing reflectors and deck plank deterioration.