A new concrete bridge on Rockvale Road will soon be open to traffic, with roadworks starting this week to construct approaches to the bridge.
Construction of the bridge structure, over Wollomombi River at Rockvale, was completed last month as part of Council's Bridge Renew Program.
The roadworks are the final stage of the upgrade and are scheduled to be finished by the end of August.
The completed works will be particularly good news for drivers of vehicles that were too heavy for the previous timber bridge.
A load limit has been in place for the road, requiring heavy vehicles to make a 13-kilometre detour along the Chandlers, Tullock and Lyndhurst Roads.
The greater capacity of the new bridge will allow the load limit to be removed, while the concrete structure's increased height will help avoid road closures because of flooding.
A temporary bridge was established at the site during construction, so the road could stay open to traffic. It will be removed once the new structure is opened.
Council's has implemented a Bridge Renewal Strategy that is progressively replacing or renewing aged timber bridges throughout the Armidale region, with 32 structures identified for the program.
To date, the program has been funded through the Federal Government's Bridges Renewal Program and the NSW Government's Stronger Regions Fund.
The program has replaced seven bridges during the past 12 months – on Wongwibinda Road, Weirs Road, Rockvale Road, Boorolong Road, Puddledock Road.
Visit for the Works & Projects page on Council's website for updates on the program.
