The new bridge on Frame Drive, Abermain will open on Wednesday, February 1.
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A ribbon-cutting will be held in the morning with the bridge set to be opened to all road users and pedestrians from around 1pm.
Frame Drive had become a popular shortcut to the Hunter Expressway’s Loxford exit.
But the former single-lane wooden bridge was deemed unsafe after it suffered substantial damage in the April 2015 storm.
The new bridge has an open load limit, two-way travel and pedestrian walk ways on both sides.
Funding for the new bridge was set aside in the council’s 2015-16 budget to undertake investigation and preliminary design works, ensuring the project was shovel-ready in October 2016.
Cessnock City Council received $2 million towards the project from the federal government’s Bridges Renewal Program, covering half of the cost of the new bridge.
Council has reaffirmed its commitment to working with Roads and Maritime Services on road safety issues on surrounding access roads.
Council estimates it will cost $15.3 million to upgrade Gingers Lane, Frame Drive and Orange Street to accommodate the increased traffic demand that has resulted since the expressway opened in March 2014.
