Lismore City Council is lobbying Transport for NSW to remove the 130-year-old Terania Street Bridge as a matter of urgency due to the significant disruptions and safety risks caused by the heritage-listed bridge.
At the October 2023 Ordinary Council Meeting, Councillors passed a resolution calling on Transport for NSW, which owns the Terania Street bridge, to fast-track the removal of the heritage-listed bridge, plus several other Transport for NSW-owned bridges.
These include the bridges on Union Street and Frank Street, Crane Street (between Barrow Lane and Simmons Street), Alexandria Parade (near Flick Street) and Winterton Parade (close to the Lismore Turf Club).
Lismore City Council Mayor Steve Krieg said Terania Street is vital for residents, ensuring connectivity to the Lismore CBD.
"Incidents with the rail bridge involving vehicle collisions and ongoing structural issues continuously cause the closure of the road, disrupting vital traffic flow for motorists in and out of the CBD and hurting nearby businesses," he said.
Mayor Krieg also said this week's incident that caused the road to be closed again, underlined the urgent need to remove the dilapidated bridge.
"With the Terania Street Bridge viaduct closed again this week because of another truck incident, our request to remove the bridge is more urgent and relevant than ever," he said.
"We're currently waiting on decisions from Transport for NSW regarding our plan to remove the Terania Street Bridge and other rail bridges. We appreciate the community's patience and support as we work towards making our City safer and more accessible for everyone."
The bridge, built in 1894, was heritage listed in 1999 due to the rare nature of its construction and design, especially in a flood-prone area.
Currently, Terania Street is closed at the railway bridge with a detour for all heavy and light vehicles available via Wilson Street, Elliott Road and Ballina Road.
A detour for pedestrians and cyclists is available from Terania Street via Pine, Crane and Tweed streets.
