Violet Street Bridge replacement

Council approved a budget variation for the Violet Street Bridge project for a total of $487,000. This recommendation was made due to the piling stage of the project taking longer to complete than anticipated resulting in the $7 million budget now being fully allocated.

The additional funding will be allocated to the bridge contractor to cover prolonged project management costs associated with the extended timeline, as well as the construction of bitumen seal approaches.

The variation is being funded from the Australian Government's Roads to Recovery funding meaning there is no direct cost to Council. This program has seen an annual funding increase over each year of the 2024-2029 program. From 2027/2028 onwards, the annual allocation will be double what it was at the start of the program.

Council also approved for the renewal of a 250mm diameter water main that was to be completed by the bridge contractor as part of the Violet Street Bridge project to be treated as a separate project. The $132,680 to renew the water main will now be funded by Council's Water Fund reserve, with works still being completed by the bridge contractor.

This adaptive and resilient approach to project and budget management is a great outcome for the Narrabri Shire community.

The completion of the replacement Violet Street Bridge has been delayed until mid-November, due to difficult ground conditions encountered during piling, resulting in an adjustment to the overall project timeline.

The project is now programmed to be finished and open to traffic in mid-November 2026, subject to weather conditions.

Council is currently working with the project’s contractor on anticipated cost increases due to the adjusted program schedule. A report regarding these costs will be presented to Councillors at next month’s Ordinary Council Meeting.

Despite the program adjustment, works are continuing at a steady pace, with installation of the precast pile caps for Pier 3 and Pier 2 as well as construction of the abutment on the Tibbereena Street side. Steel fixing has also been completed for the abutment on the Selina Street side.

Upcoming works for the remainer of this month will focus on construction of the Pier 2 and Pier 3 blade walls.

Next month will involve the construction and installation of the precast pile cap for the Pier 1 pile group and the Pier 1 blade wall, along with demolition of existing bridge piers. Construction of the headwalls for each pier will also take place, as will construction of Abutment A.

September will see works move to the installation of bridge girders and construction of the bridge deck.

Read the full update.

The replacement of Narrabri’s Violet Street Bridge has achieved a major milestone with completion of foundation piling works on the project.

The final pile was driven on 24 June for the bridge’s abutment on the Selina Street end of the bridge, marking the completion of these works.

The first concrete pour for the abutment at the Tibbereena Street end of the bridge has also been completed.

All pier piles are being cut down to the design level, while steelwork for pile caps for each pier is underway.

Focus will also move to demolition of the old bridge piers, which were used to support the temporary pile guide frames. These existing bridge piers are scheduled to be demolished in mid-July.

In addition to demolition of existing piers, the bridge’s next milestone will include the construction of the pile caps, blade piers and the abutment at the Selina Street end of the bridge.

This is expected to take approximately six weeks, after which construction of the headstocks and placement of the girders will take place – and another step closer to completion of new Violet Street Bridge.

Read the full update.

Piling works are continuing on foundations for the new Violet Street Bridge, with Pier 1 completed on 17 June. Abutment A is scheduled to be completed by 26 June.

This will complete all piling works associated with the new bridge.

Pier 2 and Pier 1 piles will now be cut down to the design level, while the concrete pour for Abutment B is scheduled for the week commencing 22 June.

Steelwork for the pile caps for each pier is also currently in progress.

The existing bridge piers that have been used to support the temporary pile guide frames are scheduled to be demolished in mid-July.

Works are moving ahead on the Violet Street Bridge project with piling in progress.

This stage includes the installation of temporary supports on existing bridge piers to assist with the piling works.

The bridge piers will be demolished once piling for the new bridge is completed.

Councillors took the opportunity to visit the site on 15 April, viewing progress of the project firsthand.

Works to remove the old Violet Street Bridge are continuing as part of its replacement with a stronger, wider and more accessible bridge.

The old bridge deck has been removed with the next phase moving onto piling works for the new bridge foundations. This will include the installation of temporary supports on the existing bridge piers to assist with these piling works.

Once piling has been completed, demolition of the old bridge piers will be undertaken.

A detour route is in place along Selina Street, Newell Highway and Tibbereena Street. This detour will remain in place throughout the duration of the works.

Read the full media release.