O’MEARA’S BRIDGE on Binna Burra Road is intended to be reopened to vehicles in late September, 2016.
The interim repairs are currently underway and will take about three weeks to complete. The bridge will them be inspected and with approval, opened to traffic.
Byron Shire Council’s infrastructure services director, Phil Holloway, said he was expecting a load limit would still need to apply to the bridge was it was reopened.
“We’re aiming to have a load limit that will allow the local school bus and emergency services to cross, but we just need to wait until the repairs are done and bridge certification completed.
“Due to the age of the timber bridge a major repair is not viable,” he said.
To support a final solution and full motor vehicle access, Council is aiming to replace the bridge during this financial year.
A surplus steel bridge from the Australia Defence Force has been purchased and detailed design and costing is currently being completed.
Mr Holloway thanked the community for their patience and said signage at the site would be updated and barriers removed once the bridged was open to motor vehicles.
Constructed in the 1930s, the O’Mearas timber bridge was closed earlier this year following the July storm event.
For further information on the project, motorists and residents can contact Byron Shire Council’s engineer, Shane Pearce, on 6626 7072.
Council will provide further O’Meara’s Bridge updates as they become available, on its website www.byron.nsw.gov.au/bridges.