The new Emu Crossing Bridge was opened to traffic yesterday, with Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall the first to drive over it, and a number of locals on hand to witness something they thought they would never see.

“This is an historic day for the Bundarra community and a fabulous one for the wider region,” Mr Marshall said. 

“I know many locals thought they’d never see a new bridge over the Gwydir River at Bundarra, but here it is – and it looks a treat.”

The community has been campaigning for a new structure for more than 70 years, with the low-level old bridge having to be closed whenever the river rose, even by a moderate amount.

Mr Marshall said Thunderbolts Way was a key regional transport and freight route, with in excess of 600 vehicles a day using the road, and the almost 100-year-old, single-lane crossing “had well and truly reached its use-by date”.

“It was regularly closed during minor flooding, resulting in a 95km detour for road users, which was costly for the transport industry,” he said.

Uralla shire’s mayor, Michael Pearce, was with Mr Marshall in the first vehicle over the new structure and said it was a proud day after so many years.

“Honestly, we never thought this day would come and it’s amazing to be standing here and seeing it finally finished,” Cr Pearce said. 

“This new bridge will make a huge difference to the communities along this route and it’s great to think that we won’t have to worry about detours anymore. It’ll take a hell of a flood to close this bridge.” 

The double-lane, 150m long bridge was built at a cost of $4 million, with $3.5 million coming from the state government and the remainder from Uralla Shire Council. The work included 1.6km of new road approaches.

NSW Roads Minister Duncan Gay will officially open it on Monday, November 9, and he will also be turning the first sod on the construction of the new Abington Creek Bridge, also on Thunderbolts Way.

The old Emu Crossing Bridge will remain intact, but it will no longer have vehicle access.