New contract to plan key Hume bridge upgrade

The contract has been awarded to plan the best way forward for revitalising a key section of the Hume Highway in NSW

The federal and New South Wales governments have announced who will help upgrade a crucial bridge along one of the nation’s busiest road freight corridors.

With plans progressing to upgrade the Hume Highway and unlock heavy vehicle access in the area, the contract has been awarded for the $20 million Sheahan Bridge upgrade project along the Hume Highway.

WSP Australia will provide concept design development and environmental assessment of potential upgrade or replacement options for the northbound bridge over the Murrumbidgee River.

The current bridge was first built in 1977, with the southbound lanes being duplicated in 2009. While the load limit was increased in 2020 northbound from 68 to 85 tonnes, higher productivity vehicles still have to use a permit to travel on the NSW section of the Hume Highway due to the age and structure limitations of the bridge.

The NSW government says the limitations on the northbound bridge also restrict opportunities for contraflow during emergency response or planned maintenance activities on the southbound bridge.

As the oldest and busiest highway in NSW, the Hume is a key focus for the federal and NSW governments.

Solutions available for the project include building a replacement bridge on a new alignment upstream (east) or downstream (west) of the existing bridge, replacing the existing bridge on its current alignment or strengthening the existing bridge.

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Transport for NSW is working with WSP Australia to further investigate the options, with the option expected to be identified for public display mid next year.

“The Hume Highway is the major freight corridor from Sydney to Melbourne, the oldest and busiest highway in Australia,” NSW regional transport and roads minister Jenny Aitchison says.

“It has been Labor governments which have invested and delivered the crucial upgrades that have ensured freight, tourism and other road users can rely on this vital network.

“Instead of forcing HPVs to use permits, the NSW and Federal Labor governments are working together to deliver a fit for purpose bridge which will reduce red tape for HPV freight operators by enabling them to use this route without having to obtain permits.”

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