Hunter region

Capacity upgrade of Dunmore Bridge

Dunmore Bridge

The NSW Government has allocated $3.8 million to upgrade the structure capacity of Dunmore Bridge to reduce future maintenance costs. Work is expected to start on site in August 2011, weather permitting. 

Dunmore Bridge is a significant timber truss Heritage Bridge in NSW.  The bridge was designed by Percy Allan, senior bridge design at the NSW Public Works Department, and is important in the evolution of timber truss bridges through the state.

Completed in 1899, it is a representative example of an overhead braced Allan Truss road bridge in service, and is one of only three remaining in NSW. 

Upgrading the bridge

The upgrade will involve completely replacing all three truss spans, the approach span and constructing a new abutment at the Woodville side of the bridge.

Features of the upgrade

Features of the upgrade will include:

  • Replacing of all three timber truss spans, including new stress laminated timber decks and traffic barriers.
  • Replacing the approach span and its abutment, steel driven piles and new concrete timber composite deck units.
  • Upgrading the deck and traffic barriers at the lift span to tie in with the upgraded truss spans.
  • Upgrading the road approaches and traffic barriers.

Using a Fixed Pin-Jib crane to upgrade the bridge

The bridge elements will be fabricated off site and then re-assembled adjacent to the bridge.  The off site work has commenced.  An extended bridge closure of up to 28 days will be required to remove the existing spans and install the new spans.  Some traffic control will be required. No traffic lights will be needed for this option.  The onsite construction timeframe on the existing bridge will be approximately 12 months, weather permitting.