The temporary gravel causeway across the Bellinger River at Justins Bridge on February 5.SUBMITTED

SUBMITTED

BELLINGEN Shire Council is about to meet NSW Roads and Traffic representatives to discuss the design for the new $500,000 Justins Bridge over the Bellinger River on Darkwood Road.

The temporary gravel causeway which has been providing access across the Bellinger River since Justins Bridge was washed away in May 2009 is regularly cut by heavy rain. Bellingen Shire Council’s road asset manager Warwick Knight said Justins was a difficult bridge to reconstruct partly because of its remoteness and also because they wanted to use a single new pier anchored into the bedrock of the river. He said because the old timber piles had splintered the rock, they needed to stay clear of the old foundations and they were using the services of Central Coast specialist bridge consultant Jim Alexander Bridge Designs.