Transport for NSW will be starting strengthening work on Paytens Bridge located on Paytens Bridge Road, 11 kilometres south-west of Eugowra.
Why are we doing this work? Following a routine inspection of Paytens Bridge that identified damage to one of the timber trusses, load monitoring was undertaken which showed that the bridge's load limit needed to be reduced until a strengthening structure called a 'Bailey bridge' could be installed. This is a steel truss frame that will be placed on the bridge deck adjacent to the damaged downstream truss to strengthen the bridge.
A 23 tonne load limit was implemented on Paytens Bridge effective from midnight on Monday 31 March until the Bailey bridge is installed. Once the Bailey bridge is in place, we expect the load limit to return to 42.5 tonnes.
What work are we doing?
The work will include:
• establishing a site compound
• installing scaffolding under the bridge
• assembly and installation of the Bailey bridge.
When will we be working?
Work will commence on Monday 5 May 2025 and is expected to take up to four months to
complete, weather permitting.
Work hours will be 7am to 6pm from Monday to Friday. All work activities and dates are subject to weather and site conditions.
What this will mean for you?
Until installation of the Bailey bridge is completed, the 23 tonne load limit will remain in place as well as a reduced speed limit of 10km/hr on the bridge at all times.
Barriers will continue to direct traffic towards the upstream side of the bridge.
There will also be temporary traffic changes within the work area to ensure a safe work zone, including:
• intermittent stopping
• single lane closures
• a reduced speed limit of 40km/h through the work area during work hours.
Outside of work hours, the speed limit in the work area will return to 100km/hr except for on the bridge, which will which remain at 10km/hr.
Detour for vehicles over 23 tonnes
Vehicles over 23 tonnes travelling between Eugowra and Lachlan Valley Way will not be able to use Paytens Bridge Road and will need to detour via Casuarina Drive to Gooloogong.
We have provided a map over the page to show the detour route.
Motorists are advised to allow 30 minutes extra travel time and to always follow the direction of traffic controllers and signs.
For the latest traffic updates, you can call 132 701, visit www.livetraffic.com or download the Live Traffic NSW App.
A Bailey bridge has been used at Paytens Bridge at least three times since 2000, most recently in 2017 (pictured) following overloading issues which required the bridge to be closed for a month.
Paytens Bridge was built in 1926 and was on the list of NSW timber truss bridges to be preserved, however in the 2019 review of the bridge conservation strategy it was identified for removal as it could be not effectively upgraded to meet future road requirements.
