Restoration of the historic Thomas James Bridge on Settlers Road near Lower Macdonald has reached the halfway point after consecutive floods between 2021 and 2022 caused significant damage.
The restoration required the excavation of the site down to the bedrock to install new steel and concrete footings and drainage that will be resilient in the face of future flooding and rain events.
The hand-cut sandstone block retaining wall – erected by convict labour in the 1830s – has been carefully disassembled with each block numbered, original position recorded and placed into storage.
Thomas James Bridge is the oldest in-use road bridge on the Australian mainland and is part of the world heritage listed Old Great North Road. The Great North Road is historically significant for its role in connecting the Hunter Valley to Sydney, and as the first road to be constructed north of the Hawkesbury River. All work at the site is taking place under the supervision of an archaeologist.
The assembly of the steel footings is currently underway at the site. Once the footings and new retaining structure are completed and excavated ground restored to its original level with structural fill, the sandstone block wall will be reassembled with all blocks returned to their original place and the timber bridge deck reinstated to maintain the historical significance and visual characteristics of the site.
Concurrently, work has been taking place to clear and stabilise a significant rock slip between the bridge and the Wisemans Ferry crossing that partially buried Settlers Road. It is estimated the restoration works will be completed in March 2025, weather permitting.
Access through the site has been maintained for local traffic at all times via a bypass which can service vehicles up to 12.5 metres long and weighing up to 42 tonnes. The bypass saves between one and two hours of travel per day for Macdonald Valley residents that would otherwise need to detour via Webbs Creek ferry.
The $17.5 million project is being managed by Hawkesbury City Council utilising funding from Federal and State Government infrastructure recovery programs.
