The bridge and road rehabilitation works on Ivan Jack Drive in Wagga Wagga's city centre have reached a milestone, with the pouring of the new concrete footings for both approaches and the wall and wing wall on the Johnston Street end.
The concrete pour for the footing on the southern end of the bridge took place on Monday 3 March and was followed later in the week by the start of works on the new wing walls.
Director Infrastructure Services Henry Pavitt described the successful pour of the new footing as a key point in the rectification process.
"It involved the delivery of 12 trucks of concrete, with approximately 52 cubic metres, poured so far.
"These new footings, along with the new walls and wing walls provide important structural improvements to the approaches at either end of the bridge.
Council is currently working to backfill the concrete walls and reinstating stormwater drainage.
"This bridge is now more than 60 years old; the rehabilitation works we're undertaking will help to future proof the structure."
Once the bridge work is complete, the focus will switch to the road rehabilitation phase, covering the length of Ivan Jack Drive from The Esplanade-Best Street intersection to the Johnston-Trail streets roundabout.
This will include addressing the current uneven approaches to the bridge by lifting the road, kerb and guttering, and footpath to the finished surface level of the bridge structure.
The final step will be the application of an asphalt wearing course, creating a smoother and stronger surface for road users.
The bridge and Ivan Jack Drive between Johnston Street and Morrow Street are closed to all vehicle and pedestrian traffic 24 hours a day for the duration of the works.
Detours remain in place.
Mr Pavitt says at this stage, Council is still on schedule to complete the works within the original six-to-eight weeks timeframe.
"We appreciate the patience and understanding motorists and pedestrians have shown over the past four weeks with the need to close off the road and footpaths," Mr Pavitt said.
"We know it has been an inconvenience as this a major connecting road between the north and south of the city centre, but the end result will be worth it."
The project is being funded under Council's Bridge Replacement Reserve and Civil Infrastructure Reserve and its existing annual roadworks program for 2024-2025.
