IT will cost more money but solve a flooding headache. Windellama district residents are welcoming news that Oallen Ford Rd Bridge will be replaced.
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Councillors decided on Tuesday to replace the existing at-grade structure with a new two-lane concrete bridge. They selected Newcastle-based company, Civilbuild Pty Ltd, to complete the $2.6 million project.
The council is allocating $400,000 more to the work than originally planned. But engineering services director Terry Cooper said it would reap a better result.
The new bridge will be built 2.05 metres higher than the existing timber structure and span the entire causeway.
“So instead of having to close the bridge two or three times a year due to flooding, it might only happen once every 10 years,” Mr Cooper said.
“This tender was more expensive but it was a more attractive option.”
Windellama District Progress Association president Lloyd Turner was happy with the outcome.
“The decision is marvellous compared to what they were going to do,” he said.
“Two metres is still not sufficient. It will take care of some flood events but not the extreme ones.”
Mr Turner recalled standing on the bridge’s approach road ankle-deep in water in past years. He has seen the water rise 10m over the structure.
The decision also solves a heavy vehicle problem. Under original plans, a 40- tonne load limit would have applied on the Goulburn side of the bridge, but 15 tonnes on the Palerang side. The Progress Association questioned Council about this at an outreach meeting last year.
Now, a 40-tonne load limit will apply to the entire length, given that the bridge replaces the causeway.
Tuesday’s decision came after a lengthy process.
Council last month abandoned a first round of tenders because bids for a single- lane bridge came in under a $1.7m cost expectation. At that time, Bridgeworks (Aust) Pty Ltd was the favoured tender, at $1.2m.
Councillors instead decided to launch a fresh round in the hope of securing a two-lane structure, fully utilising a $2, 197,000 state government grant. Four companies lodged bids – Bridgeworks (Aust) Pty Ltd, Kenpass Pty Ltd (which also tendered in the first round), Civilbuild Pty Ltd and RJ and PS Smith Pty Ltd. All offers were inside the budget, except Civilbuild’s,’ which was $2.23m, deemed to be a “better option.”
Councillors decided to allocate a further $400,000 from its bridge replacement reserve to cover the shortfall, project management and contingencies.
Mr Cooper said if $300,000 set aside for contingencies contingency fund wasn’t all needed, it would be refunded to the reserve.
Goulburn Mulwaree will also approach Palerang Council to contribute to the cost.
The project could delay Kippilaw Bridge’s replacement. This was programmed to occur in 2015/16 but if finances don’t permit, would take place over two financial years, Mr Cooper said.
“That’s assuming we need all the $400,000 in contingencies for Oallen Ford Bridge,” he said.
The road’s closure during some of the construction appears to be the only downside for Oallen residents and travellers.
Last month, Deputy Mayor Bob Kirk asked that tenderers be requested to consider providing a temporary crossing during construction.
Mr Cooper said due to the topography of the area, particularly on the north approach, it was not economically practical to construction a temporary access road and a full road closure about 12 weeks of the project was necessary.
The work is expected to take 20 weeks, including design and manufacture of components and construction. “Council is working with Civilbuild to finalise a detailed program so we can commence informing the community and the general public when the actual road closure will occur,” Mr Cooper said.
