Local road users and regional visitors are familiar with Simes Bridge on Whian Whian Road, where Rocky Creek often draws a crowd in the warmer months. What many may not realise is that the bridge was severely damaged by floodwater scouring in 2022.
In the aftermath of the floods, a temporary repair was carried out to reopen this vital community access route, while designs were finalised and funding secured for a permanent solution. Now, four years on from the disasters, work on the full repair is officially underway.
A key milestone was reached in the early hours of 5 March, with the installation of a temporary bridge across the damaged western support. This structure will maintain local vehicle access while crews undertake complex works below – and completing the installation in a single night was an impressive feat in itself.
Managed by specialist contractor MJ Smith Group on behalf of Lismore City Council, the western bridge approach was swiftly excavated to remove temporary rock fill installed in 2022. The temporary bridge was then carefully craned into position, closing the gap and allowing traffic to resume.
With the bridge now in place and vehicles moving via a single lane, work on the permanent support structure has now commenced. This stage involves installing new concrete footings and rock bolting to strengthen the bridge foundation, together with new scour protection and reconstruction of the permanent abutment.
Speaking on the works, Lismore Mayor Steve Krieg said: "I'm not an engineer, so seeing the level of precision and coordination involved in a project like this is pretty mind‑blowing."
"It's a great example of the engineering expertise being applied to get this right, and shows just how much work goes on behind the scenes to keep people moving safely."
MJ Smith Group Director, Michael Smith, said the overnight bridge installation was tightly coordinated to minimise disruption and prioritise safety.
"This was a complex job with many moving parts, but getting the temporary bridge in place and traffic moving by morning is a real credit to our Northern Rivers team and our collaboration with Council," Mr. Smith said.
This project is jointly funded by the Australian and NSW Government under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.
Weather permitting, completion is expected in the third quarter of 2026.
