News
29 December, 2025
Push for Hampden Bridge Trust as State Government pursues temporary option
Hampden Bridge is not only a key piece of infrastructure linking the Southern Highlands and Southern Tablelands with the South Coast and Far South Coast.
Hampden Bridge is not only a key piece of infrastructure linking the Southern Highlands and Southern Tablelands with the South Coast and Far South Coast.
Resident Peter Botsman says it is also the most iconic thing in Kangaroo Valley with enormous -and as yet untapped - tourism potential.
He says a Hampden Bridge Trust would ensure the community has a say on what happens to the bridge moving forward and could help drive growth of the Hampden Bridge precinct.
Most importantly he doesn’t want to see a second crossing.
If that happens he fears Hampden Bridge will fall into complete disrepair.
As already reported by The Southern Wire, Transport for NSW (TfNSW) has advised that repair work on the historic bridge will continue throughout 2026.
In its latest update TfNSW says it planning a “complex program of maintenance work” from late January through until the end of the year.
Those works will require a number of night-time closures from late March forcing motorists to use Macquarie Pass instead.
At this stage TfNSW says it is unable to say if it will be able to reinstate the 42.5 tonne load limit on the bridge which was reduced to 23 tonnes earlier this year.
Mr Botsman says an independent trust and management committee would help ensure the bridge is never again allowed to deteriorate “to the point of crisis”.
He says there needs to be a fully funded, legislated Heritage Asset Management Plan and Maintenance Endowment modelled on what is in place for the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Hawkesbury River rail bridge trusts.
He says the trust should have State Government, local community and First Nations oversight with annual public reporting.
The trust could potentially take over management of the entire Hampden Bridge precinct including the Holiday Haven camping area, the Pioneer Museum and adjoining nature reserve – which was the site of an historic Aboriginal school pioneered by Hugh and Ellen Anderson.
Mr Botsman wants to see the bridge fully restored and the 42.5 tonne load limit lifted.
He says Hampden Bridge is at the heart of Kangaroo Valley’s tourism industry but more can be done and a trust could help “develop the neighbourhood”.
In particular he wants to see daily walking tours of the bridge celebrating its history and its links with the Southern Highlands.
Hampden Bridge was opened in 1898 and is now the only surviving road suspension bridge in the nation from the 19th century.
It has been described as an “architectural marvel” originally designed to facilitate the movement of goods and residents between Kangaroo Valley and Bowral.
Mr Botsman says construction of a new crossing could be disastrous.
He says the evidence from other towns – including Nowra – indicates that unused bridges are neglected and fall to “rack and ruin” once a new bridge is in place.
TfNSW says that it may be quicker to build a temporary bridge with a 42.5 tonne load limit than it will take to repair Hampden Bridge.
It says a temporary bridge could still take years given a complex approvals process – giving the clearest indication yet that repairs on Hampton Bridge will continue for years to come.
TfNSW acknowledges that upgrading Hampden Bridge and continuing to maintain it to ensure its long-term viability for vehicles carrying heavy loads is complex and slow – largely due to the bridge’s heritage significance.
It says it has listened to the freight and farming community and understands the desire for the crossing to return to general access 42.5 tonne limit as soon as possible.
While a decision has yet to be made on a new permanent bridge, the NSW Government has committed $500,000 to begin early planning for a long-term replacement.
TfNSW says the funding will support initial design work, cost estimates and technical investigations – suggesting again that a temporary solution or a second crossing will be cheaper than repairs to Hampden Bridge.
It says the load limit reduction “aims to preserve the bridge and avoid the need for sudden and complete closures for long lengths of time, which would significantly disrupt the local community and the broader transport network”.
The reduced load limit has been consistently slammed by freight operators.
TfNSW says a temporary bridge on the western (downstream) side of Hampden Bridge is its preferred option and “the preferred alternate access option is being developed”.
“The funding required for this project is being sought and timelines refined as the various constraints at the site are being worked through.”
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