On Monday Deputy Prime Minister and Federal Member for New England Barnaby Joyce officially opened the $1 million bridge, about 34 kilometres north of Tenterfield.

Mr Joyce said the new two-lane, concrete bridge replaces a single-lane timber bridge built more than 70 years ago.

"It's a strategic transport link of the Darling Downs,” Mr Joyce said. 

“Built higher over the creek than the original bridge, the new structure represents a major improvement on Mt Lindesay Road, particularly for emergency services vehicles trying to access the area during bushfires and other natural disasters.

“The project employed local contractors and suppliers where possible. It is important to ensure that local businesses benefit from projects like this one both financially and as a way of developing skills and expertise.”

The bridge was built under the NSW Government’s Country Bridge Solutions programme, which delivers cost savings by using standardised prefabricated bridge components and existing council resources to replace bridges.

“Roads and Maritime Services had developed a range of designs and guidelines to help regional councils design, build and maintain bridges on their regional and local road networks,” NSW Member for Lismore Thomas George said.

Tenterfield Shire Mayor Peter Petty said the project demonstrates how a partnership between the three tiers of government delivers great results for Australian communities.

“Managed by Roads and Maritime Services and Tenterfield Shire Council – with the support of the NSW division of the Institute of Public Works Engineering Australasia – work started on this project in February this year,” Cr Petty said.

“The project was subsequently delivered in less than 12 months.”

The $1.05 million project was jointly funded by the Australian and NSW governments and Tenterfield Shire Council.