New Lismore bridge foundations complete

FOUNDATIONS on the Wilson St bridge in South Lismore are finished and the project is on trck to be completed by Christmas.

Lismore City Council has completed work on foundations for the Wilson St bridge in South Lismore.

FOUNDATIONS on the Wilson Street bridge in South Lismore have been completed by a pile rig and the $2.45 million link road project is on schedule.

The new bridge will span Hollingworth Creek and link Wilson Street to Wilson Street South and is expected to be completed by Christmas 2016.

This will provide an alternative route to the South Lismore Industrial Estate and an additional evacuation route during floods, as well as alleviating traffic congestion on Union Street.

Now that the installation of the 26 foundation pilings is well under way – some up to 25 metres deep – work on the bridge abutments can begin.

“This bridge is a big undertaking but our planning has been excellent and so far we are on schedule to have the bridge completed by the end of the year,” council’s Executive Director Infrastructure Services Gary Murphy said.

“The concrete foundations are without doubt the trickiest part of the operation and we are so pleased these will be finished next week and in place on time.

“We can all breathe a little easier now.”

Earlier this year the project raised safety concerns with the nearby Lismore South Public School, particularly in regards to increased traffic near a school pedestrian crossing.

Mr Murphy said council had applied for a Roads and Maritime Services grant to fund better pedestrian safety, including chicanes at the front of the school to slow traffic and a formalised car parking area in Kyogle Street for student pick-up and drop-off.

“We hope to hear in the next few months if our application is successful. We have our fingers crossed as this is a really high priority,” he said.

“Safety at Lismore South Public School has been at the forefront of our minds since before the project even began.

“If this project can help improve safety at the school as well as provide an alternative route for motorists to the South Lismore Industrial Estate, then we have a win-win.”

The new bridge is funded with $700,000 from Lismore City Council and $875,000 from both the state and federal governments.