A new concrete bridge will be built on Kline Street, Weston after council received $650,000 from the Federal Government's Bridge Renewal Program.
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The existing timber bridge - which flooded during the April 2015 superstorm - will be replaced with a concrete bridge with a higher deck and longer span.
Cessnock councillor Paul Dunn welcomed this funding, which was announced by Liberal Patron Senator for the Hunter Region, Hollie Hughes earlier this month.
"Our council has more bridges than any other local government area in NSW," Cr Dunn said.
"We are grateful for the efforts of Senator Hughes and the Federal Government."
The Bridge Renewal Program, provided through the Department of Infrastructure and Transport, is designed to help councils continue to upgrade and replace bridges that have been damaged or are deteriorating.
The Kline Street project has a total cost of $1.3 million, with council to contribute $340,900 from its 2020-21 bridge construction program budget, and $309,100 from its federal Roads to Recovery grant allocation.
Council has been allocated $5.3 million over four years (up to June 2024) from the Roads to Recovery program, and has five other projects scheduled for delivery in the current financial year thanks to this program.
These projects include completed works on Butler Parade, Kurri Kurri and Macquarie Avenue, Cessnock; work currently underway on Deasys Road at Pokolbin, and design-phase works on Camp Road, Greta and Colliery Street, Aberdare.
Senator Hughes said she was delighted the federal government could provide funding for these urgently-needed roadworks.
She recently visited Camp Road, where works will be conducted from the culvert heading toward the Hunter Expressway and a section on Mansfield Street.
"Since becoming Patron Senator to this region I've been given the opportunity to assist deliver important projects to the Hunter," Ms Hughes said.
"Clearly, this particular road is in desperate need of federal funding."
Liberal councillor Rod Doherty said the importance of road works in the area was not lost on council.
"This is about fixing terribly damaged infrastructure to improve journeys and save lives," Cr Doherty said.
"These projects are of the highest priority for Cessnock Council."
In July this year, council received a grant from the federal government's Black Spot program for safety improvement works on Sandy Creek Road, Quorrobolong.
The same month, council designated a portion of its federally-funded Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program grant to upgrade Government Road, Weston; and was also granted joint state-federal funding for works on Old Maitland Road at Sawyers Gully; Cessnock Road, Weston and Mitchell Avenue, Kurri Kurri.
- HAVE YOUR SAY: Tell us which roads you'd like to see fixed, and why, by emailing mail@cessnockadvertiser.com.au.
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Krystal Sellars
Krystal Sellars is the Senior Journalist at the Cessnock Advertiser. Born and raised in Cessnock, she started her journalism career at the Advertiser in 2006 after completing a Bachelor of Communication at the University of Newcastle. Contact her on krystal.sellars@cessnockadvertiser.com.au.
Krystal Sellars is the Senior Journalist at the Cessnock Advertiser. Born and raised in Cessnock, she started her journalism career at the Advertiser in 2006 after completing a Bachelor of Communication at the University of Newcastle. Contact her on krystal.sellars@cessnockadvertiser.com.au.
