SHOALHAVEN City Council engineers have revealed their plans to fix the Parma Creek bridge at Falls Creek.
The bridge, just west of the Princes Highway, has been closed to traffic for a number of weeks after a key load-bearing timber beam snapped last month.
While the bridge remains open for pedestrians, and students are dropped off on the eastern side by buses and parents and then walk across to the Falls Creek School, motorists and residents are being forced to take the long way around via Braidwood Road, increasing their travel times.
It was to be recommended to last night’s Shoalhaven City Council’s Policy and Resources Committee that the bridge replacement needs to be fast-tracked.
It had originally been planned to replace the bridge in 2013/14 budget but it was recommended that now be brought forward.
Engineers plan to replace the decking with a cost-effective, proprietary bridging system called HumeDeck by Humes.
The work would involve installing a new concrete decking, which will sit on the existing piers.
It would also mean the construction of new concrete head stocks either side of the creek and removing the timber components, before installing the new concrete decking.
Council was to discuss the recommendation to purchase the concrete decking, and then call tenders for the installation and construction work at last night’s meeting.
Meanwhile, a public meeting will be held next Wednesday at the Falls Creek School hall, starting at 7pm to discuss the plans for the bridge replacement.