City of Newcastle begins construction on Tyrrell Street Bridge Replacement

City of Newcastle has started the $3.3 million replacement of Tyrrell Street Bridge in a major step towards combatting flooding which has plagued the local centre.

The new higher and longer bridge will allow more floodwater to pass through the Hunter Water-owned channel during rain events. The existing Tyrrell Street road pavements adjacent to the bridge will also be raised to match the higher bridge level.

City of Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the replacement of Tyrrell Street Bridge is just one part of a wider plan to revitalise Wallsend.

“The start of construction on the Tyrrell Street Bridge is an important milestone in an ongoing process of flood mitigation and renewal in Wallsend,” the Lord Mayor said.

“This is the starting point of a larger program of work to benefit residents, businesses, property owners and visitors to the suburb.

“Wallsend is on the cusp of being transformed with significant streetscape improvements, free Wi-Fi in the town centre and safer pedestrian and cycle routes to be rolled out in the coming years.”

Replacing Tyrrell Street Bridge forms part of the Ironbark Creek Flood Mitigation Plan, which proposes another two bridges at Boscawen Street and Nelson Street be replaced, increasing the flow capacity at the Cowper Street Bridge, and planning for how Hunter Water’s channel can be widened to allow better water flow during heavy rainfall.

“Wallsend is a high-flood-prone area, so this project aims to prevent the damaging impacts caused by major rain events that we’ve see in the past,” the Lord Mayor said.

“While City of Newcastle is pleased to be investing over $3 million into the replacement of Tyrrell Street Bridge, we continue to advocate to the NSW and Commonwealth governments to assist us to deliver the full Ironbark Creek Flood Mitigation Plan in the most timely manner.

“Unfortunately, the City is yet to receive assistance to deliver this important project for the Wallsend community.”

The Tyrrell Street Bridge replacement was identified as a priority and is the first project implemented as part of the recommendations of the Wallsend Floodplain Risk Management Plan (FRMP).

City of Newcastle will continue to work with Hunter Water on long-term flood mitigations solutions in Wallsend.

The work complements other planned remediation as part of the Wallsend Public Domain and Traffic Plan.

The existing Tyrrell Street Bridge was built in 1930 and is 17.5 metres long and 2.6 metres high. The new bridge will be 26.6 metres long between abutments and approximately 3 metres high.

The bridge reconstruction project is expected to be completed in 2020.