Barnsley weir bridge works to start next month

UPGRADE: An artist impression of The Weir Road Bridge. Picture: Lake Macquarie Council

A contractor has been appointed to construct the Weir Road Bridge to replace the flood prone crossing that connects Barnsley and Teralba.

Robson Civil Projects will deliver the multi-million dollar works, which involve upgrading the infrastructure from single-lane to a new dual-lane bridge, road realignment and construction of a 3m-wide shared pathway on the northern side.

Works are expected to begin late next month. The new bridge is expected to be operational in mid-2022.

The crossing has remained closed since the weir was damaged in the March storm event and council's asset manager Helen Plummer said following extensive investigations it will remain permanently closed to protect motorists.

"The latest engineering assessments of the weir indicate it is unsafe for continued use by the community. Investigations show there are a range of structural issues, such as scour, undermining and damaged asphalt, that would put the public at risk if we were to re-open access," Ms Plummer said.

"Rehabilitation works on the existing weir are impractical due to the significant cost and length of time required to repair the structure to make it safe. We appreciate the community's understanding regarding this decision and apologise for the inconvenience of the closure."

CLOSED: The weir was damaged in the March flood event. Picture: Lake Macquarie Council

The Australian Government committed $4.7 million to the upgrade and council will fund the remainder.

Councillor Kevin Baker has long pushed for a new weir bridge and said he was "delighted that this key infrastructure project will be finally delivered".

"The Barnsley Weir Bridge is a critical link between the north and west of Lake macquarie and has been sorely needed for decades," he said.

Lake Macquarie Mayor Kay Fraser said the new bridge would be fit for purpose for 100 years.

"Once complete, it will enable a reliable and safe passage for motorists to travel between Barnsley and Teralba, no matter the weather conditions," she said.

Robson Civil Projects Division Manager Chris Janetzki said they looked forward to "delivering a quality product for the Lake Macquarie community".