$10 million investment for Melville Ford Bridge and three major roads

Maitland City Council has secured close to $10 million in funding for major infrastructure upgrades within our community including Melville Ford Bridge and Melville Ford, Maitland Vale and Tocal roads. 

An extra $2.5 million has been confirmed to fund the replacement of Melville Ford Bridge, provided by the NSW Government, the Fixing Country Bridges Program and a joint disaster relief program created by the Australian and NSW Governments. 

This brings the project total to $8.2 million and allows for a wider scope of work. 

Mayor Philip Penfold says Council is ‘proud to deliver this important upgrade for the people of Maitland.’

‘We’re going to build a new bridge that’s twice as wide and twice as high so when minor flooding events do occur, the impacts on the community, particularly for people living in suburbs like Bolwarra, Lorn and Largs, will be reduced.’

Work will involve the construction of a new dual lane, concrete bridge over the Hunter River to replace the existing timber bridge and raising the bridge which will reduce the time the road is closed or help avoid road closures completely. 

Council has also secured $6 million to rebuild two sections of Maitland Vale Road and a section of Melville Ford Road, which will help improve the community’s flood resilience and ensure residents can rely on these routes during emergencies. 

‘We want to make sure Maitland residents are cut off less frequently and for less time during floods, and upgrading Maitland Vale Road and Melville Ford Road will help mitigate that,’ says Mayor Penfold.

Council is working closely with the NSW Government to determine the exact scope of work and timelines for these roads. 

Work is also currently underway on a $1.9 million reconstruction and widening upgrade to Tocal Road at Bolwarra Heights. 

Jointly funded by Council and the NSW Government’s Fixing Country Roads Program, work will take place between Maitland Vale Road and Lang Drive and include new drainage and pavement reconstruction. 

Mayor Penfold says this investment ‘will significantly improve Tocal Road for the people of Bolwarra Heights and surrounding communities.

‘Maitland is the fastest growing regional city in NSW and we’re investing in our road network so we can deliver for our community, now and into the future.’

Work is expected to take six months to complete, weather permitting.