Backfilling the new culvert starts at Boat Harbour Road

BACKFILLING the new culvert at Sauls Dairy on Boat Harbour Road is under way. 

The road had been reduced to a single lane, with the eastbound lane closed due to subsidence.

To permanently fix the road, the old corrugated iron culverts beneath it had to be removed, which was completed in mid-September.

A 230-tonne crane installed the new tri-cell culvert structure over three days in October.

Nambucca Valley Mayor Gary Lee and David Maloney, back in his role as Director Engineering Services, visited the site this week as the first layer of backfill was placed alongside the culvert.

“Having the culverts backfilled and road base gradually compacted is an excellent milestone for this project,” Cr Lee said.

“Council’s contractor, Fortade, is so far on time with this job,” Mr Maloney said.

“We expect to have the road re-opened by Christmas.”

The work has been funded by $2.4m from the Australian Government Safer Local Roads Infrastructure Program.

“This has been a substantial job for the sheer size of the work site,” Mr Maloney added.

“A 34-metre wide by 8.5-metre deep hole, and the land’s steep terrain had presented technical challenges during recent rain.

“But the Fortade crews have hooked in, working six days a week to keep the work on schedule.

“It’s great to have quality contractors here in the valley. As they live here, they’ve been as keen as the council is to see Boat Harbour Road re-opened by Christmas.”

During the road closure, vehicles travelling between Macksville and Taylors Arm have had to take a detour via Taylors Arm Road.

The council’s roads crew have been regularly maintaining the road and will be at nearby Lemans Road this week. Next, they head to Welshs Creek Road and Williams Hill Road, which have had additional traffic due to the Boat Harbour Road closure.

Motorists are encouraged to check Live Traffic or their preferred mapping app before travelling, as road closures and detour details are outlined on these apps.