Pearces Creek Bridge gets maintenance work ahead of much-needed upgrade

Ballina Shire Council has taken over managing the situation, even though the responsibility should be equally shared with Lismore City Council.

Pearces Creek bridge, on Eltham Road, is on the boundary of the Ballina and Lismore local government areas, currently on a single-lane traffic arrangement.

Ballina Shire Council will start maintenance work on Pearces Creek Bridge on Eltham Road, Pearces Creek, from Monday, August 2.

These works will take up to two weeks to complete and are essential for maintaining the existing timber bridge structure.

Traffic control will be in place and the works will be carried out from 7am to 3pm, Monday to Friday.

The maintenance work is not related to a much-needed $2.24 million upgrade announced last April.

The upgrade should begin later in the year, as announced by the state government.

Ballina Shire Council has taken over managing the situation, even though the responsibility should be equally shared with Lismore City Council.

Haulage restrictions and single-lane traffic flow will come to an end on the ageing bridge on Eltham Road in the Ballina Shire after the upgrade is complete.

Pearces Creek bridge, on Eltham Road, is on the boundary of the Ballina and Lismore local government areas, currently on a single-lane traffic arrangement.

Ballina mayor David Wright welcomed the funding, announced under the NSW Government’s Fixing Country Bridges Program.

“Pearces Creek Bridge is an important transport link for our community connecting two shires (Lismore and Ballina), schools, businesses, as well as residents,” Cr Wright said.

“The project will improve safety for road users, reduce maintenance costs and reinstate the bridge from one lane to two lanes.

“The total project cost is over $4 million, and Ballina Shire Council has been fortunate enough to receive federal and state funding for this important community asset.”

The federal government had already allocated $2 million through round five of the Bridge Renewal Program.

Council staff will soon start work on obtaining the required environmental assessment and approvals, then the detailed design of the new bridge will need to be be completed, followed by a tender process.

Ballina Shire Council is hoping for the upgrade to happen between April 2022 and January 2023.