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Locals celebrate Murphys Bridge reopening

September 8, 2022 8:01 am in by

Work to rebuild Murphys Bridge on Eurobodalla Road in Cadgee, west of Dalmeny is nearing completion.

The bridge is now open to local residents under traffic control, however, the finishing touches still need to be completed such as the approach slabs and curbs.

Locals host a BBQ and get together in early September 2022 to celebrate the bridge reopening to locals.
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A number of locals held a barbecue near the bridge this week to celebrate the largest bushfire-affected bridge replacement in the Eurobodalla Shire, after the old timber bridge was destroyed by fire on New Years Eve in 2019.

Pre-fire: The old wooden bridge sat solidly above the Tuross River.
Murphys Bridge was destroyed by fire on New Years Eve in 2019 during the Black Summer bushfires.

The 68.5 metre replacement bridge is stronger and capable of taking heavier loads than the old bridge but for local children the new bridge represents something else.

Lakota Walpole who started kindergarten not long after the black summer bushfires but is now a Year 2 student at Bodalla Public School, was thrilled about her very first pick up from her own bus stop at Cadgee.

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“My name’s Laktoa and I’m very excited because I got my first time, getting picked up from my own bus stop means a lot to my family,” she said.

January 2020: Not much was left of the bridge, but at least the lack of rain allowed vehicles to pass.

Murphys bridge was the largest bushfire-affected bridge replacement and when finished, will be the final fire/flood affected bridge replacement to be completed.

March 2020: Heavy rain and flood waters in February washed away the temporary track.

Council’s initial plans were to rebuild the timber bridge, however, with support of Transport for NSW, there was an opportunity to “build back better” according to a council spokesperson.

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Council secured funding for a multi-span modular concrete structure which would be more fire and flood resilient.

After floods in December 2021 and February 2022 delayed work, the deck components are carefully lowered into position in July 2022.

The new bridge is an InQuik Bridging System – a combination of large prefabricated steel and aluminium components, with concrete poured on site.

Works on the bridge rebuild got underway in 2021 with council keen to re-open direct access for communities west of the Tuross River.

August 2022: The concrete was laid and concrete approaches are built and local residents can use the bridge!
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The aim was to have Murphys Bridge rebuilt by early 2022 however works have been hampered by flood disasters and record rainfall in the region.

Images: Norm Johnstone, Eurobodalla Shire Council

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