TIMBER decking will be replaced on Gostwyck’s historical Munsie Bridge.
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But engineers have struck a compromise with a heritage expert to retain the structure’s character.
Uralla Shire Council wants to upgrade the bridge, which is located in the Gostwyck Memorial Chapel precinct, to allow traffic to continue using it safely.
But Council’s acting director of infrastructure regulation Owen Johns asked Uralla Shire’s heritage adviser Mitch McKay to ensure upgrade works didn’t detract from the historical look of the precinct.
“It’s an old bridge – it opened in 1938,” he said.
“The timber decking is not capable of taking heavy trucks, to put it simply.
“We now have money from the Roads to Recovery Program and Council has allocated some of the funding to replace the timber deck.
“I wanted to see what we could do to maintain the character of the bridge.”
Mr McKay recommended the timber approach rails from the chapel remain and Council put up signage detailing the history of the bridge.
He also wants a photographic recording of the bridge to be prepared.
Council documents indicate the bridge is a heritage item which also contributes to the nature of the Gostwyck Memorial Chapel and precinct.
The Uralla community based heritage study identifies the bridge as a significant aspect of the popular tourist destination.
“The bridge itself has a very rural evocativeness, as does the road approach from the chapel side, all of which adds to the incredible visual and rural aesthetic about this peaceful location,” it said.
The structure is one of two timber bridges left in the shire, the other being the Mi Hi Bridge.
While timber elements of the bridge need replacing, the original concrete foundations are still structurally sound and will be retrained in the upgrade.
“We’ve done other bridges in the shire in a similar manner,” Mr Johns said.
“It’s a whole lot cheaper - it reduces the cost of the bridge being replaced.”
He said this also meant the design for the upgraded bridge would be in keeping with what’s currently at the site.
“We’re going to replace the timber deck but install steel hand rails similar to what’s present in wood,” he said.
“From a distance it will maintain the character of the bridge in that setting.
“I think it’s a good solution for the modern day requirements of a well engineered bridge and keeping the heritage values.”