New bridge at Oallen Ford to have only single lane

Local Government engineering specialists have revealed anew $1.5 million bridge to be built over the Shoalhaven River near Nerriga,  will only be a single lane structure,  still liable to flooding.

The new bridge will go over the river at O'Allen Ford,  on the Nowra Goulburn back road, and replace an old timber structure,  which has suffered structural damage and is the subject of a 5 tonne weight.

Goulburn Mulwarree Council has secured funding from the state government for the bridge, with the assistance of Shoalhaven Council and Christian Democrats MP Paul Green.

Shoalhaven Council says the new crossing will duplicate in concrete,  what is there now, a single lane bridge, which will be closed occasionally,  when river levels are up.

In a report to council, Shoalhaven engineers say a single lane bridge is suitable short term solution,  given the complete upgrading of the road from Nowra to the Hume Highway could be anything up to 20 years away.