A leading Australian bridge restoration expert says detailed testing would need to be undertaken to determine the structural strength of the Cuttagee Bridge.
The opinion from engineer Davide Maggiolo from Timber Restoration Services who has restored numerous bridges in Australia including similar ones in other parts of NSW.
He said the report being used by the Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison to justify replacing the Cuttagee Bridge with a $30-million concrete structure lacks hard evidence.
“The report only had pictures and opinion. There was no evidence to suggest that the concrete was completely gone or that the timber was completely gone,” Mr Maggiolo said.
“It was purely photos,” he said.
“One of the tests that we do is a non-destructive test that uses compression waves to go through the timber and from that you can get data that tells you what condition the timber is.
“That would tell more than anything whether the timber needs to be replaced or whether it is recoverable.”
