The bridge west of Gunnedah was officially opened by Member for Tamworth Kevin Anderson and Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight Duncan Gay.

The upgrade follows a number of accidents over the last few years, with communities concerned about safety.

“The old bridge was just that – old, narrow, dilapidated and decaying, making it unsafe for motorists to travel on,” Mr Gay said.

“I listened to the community’s concerns and the strong push from your very dedicated local members and prioritised funding for this fantastic 17 metre wide, 11.4metre long crossing.

“But we didn’t stop there – we also upgraded 700 metres of road approaches on either side of the bridge, which makes the journey for motorists travelling between places, such as Gunnedah and Tamworth, even safer.”

The new bridge has been designed to withstand the increase of heavy vehicle transport and urban development in the growing region, according to Mr Gay.

Mr Anderson thanked the surrounding communities for their patience and support during the process.

“Our whole community was thrilled to see work starting on the new bridge in October last year and I speak on behalf of all locals – we’re so glad to see the work finished and the bridge open to traffic,” he said.

“The approaches are a welcome addition to the upgrade – it is going to improve safety for heavy vehicles and in turn, improve safety for other road users.”

The old bridge will soon be demolished by Roads and Maritime Services.