Bellingen bridge repairs going strong Coffs Coast Highlight Section by News Of The Area - Modern Media - February 3, 2023 Reopening the repaired Taylors Bridge at Bellingen was Nationals candidate for Oxley Michael Kemp, Bellingen Shire Mayor Stephen Allan, Minister Sam Farraway, Uncle Bud, Member for Oxley Melinda Pavey and Bellingen Shire Acting Manager Mark Griffioen. SEVEN of Bellingen Shire’s bridges have been repaired and reopened thanks to the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government’s Fixing Country Bridges program. Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Sam Farraway said Bellingen Shire Council has received more than $27.3 million from the NSW Government to replace ageing timber bridges with new stronger, sturdier concrete ones. Advertise with News of The Area today. It’s worth it for your business. Message us. Phone us – (02) 4981 8882. Email us – media@newsofthearea.com.au Minister Farraway was in Bellingen on Tuesday 17 January with Member for Oxley Melinda Pavey on site at North Bank Road to officially open Taylors Bridge. “It is fantastic to be able to open the latest completed bridge in the Bellingen Shire which received $710,000 from the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government, and to see the tangible impacts these new bridges are having in keeping communities connected in Bellingen and beyond,” he said. A local farmer with land on North Bank Road in Bellingen who uses Taylors Bridge to access his farm every day is impressed with the results. “It’s pretty marvellous how they repaired it in such good time using the new way of building bridges,” he told News Of The Area. “Using prefabricated pieces, (in a nutshell) they slide it into position and pour on the concrete.” Bellingen Shire Council Mayor Stephen Allan said all the new bridges had been designed to last more than 100 years. “Not only are these bridges stronger and able to carry heavier freight loads, in some cases they are wider and higher. “Overall, they will be more resilient and because they are built of newer materials, they will cost us less to maintain and allow Council to focus on other key infrastructure renewals,” Cr Allan said. “We have worked hard, supported by key local contractors Coastalworks (Coffs Harbour City Council) and Mid North Coast, and since the beginning of December (2022) have been able to open seven new bridges. “They are Cobb O Corn Bridge on Reids Road; Diehappy Bridge on Darkwood Road, Darkwood; Richardsons Bridge on Darkwood Road, Bellingen; Taylors Bridge at Bellingen; Coopernook Creek Bridge on Coramba Road, Megan; Knights Bridge on Kalang Road, Kalang; and Cahills Bridge on Nobles Lane, Bellingen.” By Andrea FERRARI Taylors Bridge, repaired and reopened as part of the government’s Fixing Country Bridges program.
