In the good times, we passed over them without noticing anything but the rumble of tyres over the wooden decking. Now they've been lost in the bushfire emergency, their absence is front of mind for many families and individuals who have relied on them.
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Across the Shoalhaven four bridges have been destroyed. We've spoken to residents who rely on two of them and they are not happy because they are yet to hear when they will be replaced.
Bill Selby from Budgong was one of them. He runs cattle on the family farm which was established in 1944. The road from Budgong through to Kangaroo Valley has never been flash - there's a rock overhang Bill is particularly concerned about - but it has always been vital.
With the bridge out, he now has to drive all the way back into Nowra, then up over Cambewarra to reach Kangaroo Valley. The bridge over School Creek was due for replacement when it was destroyed by fire on January 4. Now all that stands are the concrete piers.
The army was approached by Shoalhaven City Council to see if it could provide a temporary Bailey bridge but it declined. Council is now trying to source a civilian version of the same thing but that will take time.
It's not just inconvenience the 20-odd families in the area face.
The fear is that should another emergency befall the district, first responders will have to add considerable time to access the area.
A similar story is told south of Ulladulla, where a small bridge on Wheelbarrow Road has been destroyed. Its loss means nearby residents have to triple the length of their journey into Ulladulla, travelling via Milton.
We spoke to David Freeman, who lives at Woodburn, and he also has fears about another emergency occurring. Having survived the January 4 blaze, he is particularly sensitive about being trapped in what has become a perilous landscape.
He says the Prime Minister should exercise his authority and instruct the army to provide a Bailey bridge. "It would be nice to see our taxes being put to good use," he reasons.
Whether that happens remains to be seen. What is clear is that these humble structures are vital links for any rural community.
Many have been lost in NSW since the fire emergency first flared in August last year. Replacing them presents a huge challenge to councils the length of the coastline.
