Cuttagee Bridge renewal

The Cuttagee Bridge Renewal project aims to replace the deteriorating Cuttagee Bridge, which is nearing the end of its functional life and is subject to weight and speed restrictions due to its poor condition.

The three primary objectives for this project are:

• Improve road safety and accessibility. 
• Reduce ongoing maintenance costs. 
• Ensure a resilient and sustainable road network.

Cuttagee Bridge is located on the Tathra-Bermagui Road and crosses the Cuttagee Lake entrance area at the northern end of Cuttagee Beach. It is a crucial road link between Barragga Bay and Bermagui, providing access to the Sapphire Coast. The road also provides an important sealed alternative access to the Princes Highway in this region, from Tilba (or Cobargo) in the north, to Tathra, Bega and further south to Merimbula and Pambula via Sapphire Coast Drive and Arthur Kaine Drive. It provides emergency services access to an increasing residential rural population in Bermagui and surrounding areas.

3.The bridge is in danger of a potentially serious structural failure unless remedial action is taken. The renewal is necessary to ensure the bridge remains safe, secure, and fit for purpose for decades to come. Currently, ongoing maintenance of the existing bridge is required to ensure it remains safe for public use. This maintenance is costly for Council to undertake and can require road closures that affect the local community. This maintenance burden will only get worse in the future unless renewal is undertaken.

The existing bridge is past the end of its design life having been modified and repaired many times and is no longer a good example of its type. It is not economically feasible to keep repairing as components progressively deteriorate. 100-year design life is part of the project requirements under AS5100 and the best option is for a full asset renewal meeting modern standards.

The timber girders have been severely impacted by the harsh marine environment. Loss of section, and deterioration of wood including longitudinal cracks significantly impact the flexural capacity. The wooden supports are severely damaged, and all have undergone strengthening works. The steel girders have also been severely affected by the saline environment with severe localised corrosion. The concrete substructure also has severe defects including cracking of the structure exposing reinforcement and corrosion.

Council is focused on providing assets that are resilient to natural disasters, such as bushfires and flooding, to ensure the ongoing safety of the community and the functionality of the transport network.

Council engaged a bridge designer and three concept designs were developed as required by the Transport for NSW funding deed.

The scope of the three concept design options is outlined below:

• Option 1: A single-lane hybrid structure with decorative timber, attached shared pathway, and handrails.
• Option 2: A two-lane hybrid structure with decorative timber, attached shared pathway, and handrails.
• Option 3: A two-lane concrete structure with attached shared pathway and handrails.

During the development of each option the project team have carefully considered a range of inputs including safety, durability, risk, construction and maintenance costs, community feedback, geographic constraints, constructability, heritage, tourism, and the environment.

At the Council meeting on 12 November 2025, Council resolved to proceed with Option 3. The project will now move to detailed design and a Review of Environmental Factors (REF) will be prepared. This phase, including a refined cost estimate, is expected to be completed by June 2026.

A detailed design is far more complex than a concept design and includes technical plans on how to actually build the bridge. A detailed design also allows greater clarity on the estimated construction costs. Council will be seeking tenders for the construction of the bridge once a detailed design, relevant approvals and allocation of construction funding have been finalised.

Bega Valley Shire Council has engaged the services of GHD, a leading engineering and consulting firm, to partner with Council in delivering the Cuttagee Bridge Renewal project. Chris O’Brien and Company have been engaged as the bridge designer and NGH are the engaged environmental and planning consultants.

The project team understand the impact that road closures have on the community, including local businesses, and together with the designer are developing a construction methodology that limits disruption to the public as much as practical. The methodology recommended by the bridge designer involves the provision of a temporary bridge and access track to facilitate the flow of live traffic during construction. While some road closures will likely be inevitable, extended closures will be avoided to minimise impact to the public. Details are still being worked through, and we will keep the public updated through Councils major projects page.

The new bridge is required to meet current design standards to ensure the safety of all road users. Council understands that the Cuttagee Lake and Beach is a well visited area by both local residents and tourists alike, particularly during the summer months, and providing safe access is critical. Council is considering parking layout options, beach access points and pedestrian links to ensure that the broader Cuttagee precinct is safe and accessible to all visitors.

The Cuttagee Bridge Renewal project team will carefully consider environmental factors to minimise the project’s impact. Temporary impacts on wildlife, water quality, and vegetation may occur during construction. The project team will work to mitigate these impacts through careful planning and adherence to environmental regulations. Additionally, the new bridge design will aim to be resilient to climate change and a changing landscape, ensuring long-term accessibility.

The project has funding of $15 million, which was committed by the NSW Government during the 2023 election. This funding is administered through Transport for NSW under the Regional Roads Fund. While a significant contribution and step forward, this amount will not be sufficient to cover the full cost of the renewal of the bridge.

Cost estimates are still being prepared but preliminary estimate that construction costs are likely to be in excess of $20 million. While there is contingency built into this amount, this figure does not include several other project costs, including but not limited to:

• Design, Project Management and other consultant costs
• Permits and approvals
• Staging costs
• Adverse ground conditions
• Out of hours works and/or staging costs
• Land acquisition costs
• Cost escalation beyond 2027
• Lifecycle costs not included.

The detailed design phase has now commenced and a detailed, higher-level confidence cost estimate will be prepared.

Council staff will seek additional funding to address any funding shortfall including provision of required contingencies.

It is noted that material costs for the bridge can be estimated once the detailed design is finalised. However, factors such as construction methods, weather, coastal conditions, and timing will influence the final total costs.

Council secured funding under the Cuttagee Bridge Renewal Project to undertake a precinct study. This study, which is under review, will identify high-level opportunities for the area. At this early stage, there is no endorsed position on future proposals for the precinct, and no funding beyond this initial study phase.

Council recognises the importance of considering the broader precinct, including pedestrian movement, potential parking layouts (noting there is currently no formal parking), beach access points, and safe pedestrian links. These elements will be explored further once funding is secured and stakeholder engagement occurs.

For more information you can contact: Cuttagee Bridge renewal project team cuttageebridge@begavalley.nsw.gov.au