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Paynes Crossing Bridge

Project typeBridge upgrade
Project scheduleDesign: Mar - May 2020; Construction: Jun 2020 - Feb 2021
Completion Date01 March 2021

Image of Member for the Hunter, the Hon Joel Fitzgibbon MP, Singleton Mayor Councillor Sue Moore, Cessnock City Mayor Councillor Bob Pynsent and NSW Minister for Regional Transport and Roads, the Hon Paul Toole MP on the bridge.

Paynes Crossing Bridge is part of a vital rural link between the Cessnock and Singleton local government areas. The bridge on Paynes Crossing Road crosses Wollombi Brook 11.6km north of the historic township of Wollombi and is the boundary between the two LGAs.

The old single lane timber bridge at Paynes Crossing deteriorated due to time, additional heavy traffic and storm damage and has been replaced with a new concrete bridge. The new bridge has an improved alignment and is 3 metres higher. The bridge and roadwork has been designed to provide:

Two travel lanes
Long life span and lower maintenance
Improved road safety
More flood resilience
Not load limited

Design

(March - May 2020)

Council accepted a tender for the design and construction of the new two lane bridge and approach roadworks.

Utility relocation works occurred in April 2020 prior to bridge works. Relocation of the overhead communications cables coincided with the commencement of construction works.

Construction

(June 2020 - February 2021)

Construction is now completed and features:

A new bridge on a more easterly alignment
Wider road at the abutments and approaches
Relocated utility services
Signage and line marking

Construction was staged to minimise disruption and reduce timeframes.

Photo of Paynes Crossing Bridge mid construction as at 10 December 2020
Status of works at 10 December 2020

Background

The original route from Newcastle to the Hawkesbury River was established in the 1820s. A number of bridges have existed at Paynes Crossing over the years with the original bridge being built after a major flood in 1949. Various elements of the original bridge were replaced over the years. An independent structural assessment in 2016 recommended a 6 tonne load limit on the bridge for the safety of the public and to reduce the rate of deterioration until the bridge can be replaced. The new structure has no load limit.

Funding

Council successfully secured funding from the Federal Government under the Bridges Renewal Program and further funding from the NSW Government’s ‘Restart NSW Fund’ to allow for replacement of the bridge and the associated road approaches. As the bridge belongs jointly to Cessnock and Singleton councils, both councils contributed 50% each to the cost over and above grant funds.