Rural
5 October, 2026
Government seeks feedback on timber truss bridges
Transport for NSW (TfNSW) is looking to retain three historic bridges across the region as part of a review of its Timber Truss Bridge Strategy.
Transport for NSW (TfNSW) is looking to retain three historic bridges across the region as part of a review of its Timber Truss Bridge Strategy.
TfNSW is currently seeking community and stakeholder feedback to determine if anything has changed since the strategy was last reviewed in 2019.
The timber bridges identified for retention in the 2019 review included the Rossi Bridge over the Wollondilly River (Goulburn-Mulwaree LGA), Victoria Bridge over Stonequarry Creek (Wollondilly) and Wee Jasper Bridge over the Goodradigbee River (Yass Valley).
Six bridges were being flagged as ‘not for retention’ – however none of them are in the region.
A TfNSW spokesperson said the 27 bridges identified for retention represented a range of former bridge types spanning different ages, sizes and configurations – but all remained an important part of Australia’s cultural and engineering heritage.
Nevertheless, TfNSW has acknowledged that some of those bridges “may no longer meet contemporary community needs” and wants feedback to help determine if that is the case.
It also wants feedback on how it can improve the strategy “to support good long-term outcomes”.
NSW’s timber truss road bridges date back to the 1850s and were built because they were considered both affordable and practical.
A NSW government minister’s response to parliamentary questions in 1894 showed that the largest timber road bridges cost only a quarter of what the largest iron road bridges cost.
They were considered one of the main reasons NSW was able to achieve an affordable and operational network.
The Rossi Bridge was completed in 1899 and is regarded as technically significant because it has stone pillars and a rare three-truss span.
Of the 105 ‘Allan’ truss bridges built in NSW – so-named because they were designed by senior engineer with the Public Works Department, Percy Allan – it is one of only about 38 still in existence.
Victoria Bridge in Picton is another ‘Allan’ truss bridge.
It was officially opened in 1897 and is the second oldest ‘Allan’ truss bridge built in NSW.
It is also one of the largest of its type.
The Wee Jasper Bridge, completed in 1896, is also an ‘Allan’ truss bridge and is the oldest surviving Allan truss bridge in NSW.
Those people wanting to provide feedback on the Timber Truss Bridge Strategy can do so online at www.haveyoursay.nsw.gov.au/TTBS-review
The feedback period will close at 11.59pm on Friday, October 30.
A second round of consultation on the draft revised strategy is being planned for mid to late 2027.
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