Jenny Aitchison, Minister for Roads and Minister for Regional Transport
Regional communities across the state are invited to help shape the future of the state’s historic timber truss bridges.
For generations, these timber structures have stood the test of time, carrying families, farmers, freight and visitors across NSW.
Today, Transport for NSW manages, maintains and preserves 27 historic timber truss bridges across the state dating from 1880 to 1930.
One of these historical bridges include Clarence Town Bridge over the Williams River, built in 1880 and the oldest surviving timber truss bridge in NSW. Earlier this year, the NSW and Australian Government’s in partnership with Dungog Shire Council, built a new bridge over the Williams River, allowing the existing heritage bridge to be repaired and maintained in accordance with the Strategy.
Transport for NSW is reviewing its Timber Truss Bridge Strategy across the state, and wants to hear from the communities who live alongside and use these bridges every day.
First developed in 2010 and revised in 2012 and 2019, the Timber Truss Bridge Strategy sets out how these important structures are preserved and managed while continuing to meet the needs of a modern transport network.
We have heard from local communities that some bridges are not meeting local needs, or are being overly impacted by increased maintenance needs due to the increased weight of higher productivity vehicles, and increased road traffic as regional travel pattern have changed.
The review will seek direct feedback from local communities, councils, heritage groups, industry and road users and consider how the strategy can respond to changing needs. Feedback will help Transport for NSW better understand what matters most to the communities connected to these bridges and inform how the strategy can balance heritage, community and transport needs into the future.
Community consultation will run from 28 September to 30 October 2026. Community members can have their say through the Have Your Say website, by calling 1800 167 499 or emailing RegionalProjects@transport.nsw.gov.au.
An updated Timber Truss Bridge Strategy is expected to be released in late 2027.
Minister for Roads, Jenny Aitchison said:
“Steeped in history, the timber truss bridges across our state are the landmarks that form part of the identity of their respective towns. They are a reminder of the ingenuity that helped connect regional NSW more than 100 years ago.
“With the advent of higher productivity vehicles, communities like Scabbing Flat have told us that for some communities, the current Timber Truss Strategy is no longer meeting their economic and productive needs. The Mayor of Dubbo, Councillor Josh Black has been a passionate advocate for ensuring the strategy incorporates the views of local community members who use this kind of infrastructure across the state.
“This review of the Timber Truss Strategy is about working together to shape the future of these historic assets and how they serve their local road network.
“I encourage everyone across the state to have their say about how we can best ensure connectivity for regional communities, while preserving some examples of the bridges that are a testament the engineering and skills of our past.”