BY IAN CROUCH
The devastating May floods have caused construction on a major infrastructure project near Maitland to be delayed.
Construction began on the new dual lane concrete Melville Bridge over the Hunter River in September 2024.
The $8.2 million project jointly funding by Maitland Council and the state and federal governments is replacing the old single lane timber bridge which frequently went under water during flood events.
In a cruel irony, the partially constructed bridge, which is designed to be much higher than the previous one, sustained damage during the May flood, with erosion, displacement of the bridge deck beams and flood debris impacting the site.
Council says it means completion of the bridge will be delayed for at least four months, with no clear timeline yet on a completion date.
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| An artist's impression of the new Melville Bridge |
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| The old Melville Ford Timber Bridge |
