Possum Creek and other Bangalow residents may be happy to learn that, weather permitting, Possum Creek Road will be reopening in mid-July, Byron Shire Council having completed the rebuilding of the bridge near the intersection of Friday Hut and Possum Creek Roads.
After a structural failure in September 2007 the bridge – and Possum Creek Road – were closed to vehicle and pedestrian traffic. An engineering inspection recommended demolishing the existing bridge and building a new one. In October 2007 Byron Council allocated $640,000 for the project.
Subsequently, after heavy storms, the old bridge deteriorated and was demolished in January 2008. To rehabilitate and stabilise the embankment of the creek, landscaping works were then undertaken.
Following geotechnical investigations and reports, Council decided to build a new concrete bridge, rather than a steel plate arch structure. Tenders closed in June 2009 and the job was awarded to Neumann Contractors for $669,350, including GST.Once construction was completed, Council staff constructed and sealed the approaches.
A page on Council’s website – www.byron.nsw.gov.au – illustrates and describes the entire process. Christobel Munson