Three Martinsville bridge upgrades complete

Published on 14 March 2025

Martinsville is now home to safer and smoother transport links following the construction of three new bridges in the valley.

Two bridges along Owens Road and one on Pointers Road were reconstructed over the past 12 months to bring them back into line with modern standards and load limits.

Lake Macquarie Mayor Adam Shultz said the new bridges would provide better access to about 50 semi-rural properties in the area.

“Not only do these new structures allow for improved access to properties and transport through the Martinsville valley, but they also ensure that emergency services can access the area in a timely and efficient manner when necessary,” he said.

The more than $11.8 million project was funded by over $7.5 million from the Australian Government’s Safer Local Roads and Infrastructure program.

Other funding partners are Lake Macquarie City which contributed over $2.6 million to the project, while the New South Wales Government has provided more than $1.6 million under the Fixing Country Roads funding program for the Owens Road Bridge.

Federal Minister for Regional Development and Local Government Kristy McBain said these upgrades were a major boost for the Martinsville community.

“As someone that drives hundreds of thousands of kilometres across NSW, I know how important it is to invest in the reliability of our regional and rural road networks,” she said.

“Heavy freight trucks, and local Martinsville residents, can now travel on Owens Road and Pointers Road with confidence, thanks to these major upgrades.”

Federal Member for Hunter Dan Repacholi said this was a welcome safety improvement to these aged and deteriorated timber bridges.

“Delivering this long-term fix for these bridges is a major win for our community and ensures that all traffic - from our heavy vehicles, emergency personnel and families heading to school and work - can get around safely,” he said.

“These bridges are now smooth and more reliable and I’m so pleased that we’ve improved these critical transport links in Martinsville, in partnership with the NSW Government and Lake Macquarie City.”

State Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison said the NSW Government was committed to supporting rural areas with suitable infrastructure.

“The Martinsville project is a great example of all tiers of government combining to deliver outcomes for regional communities,” she said.

“This funding is all about making sure people stay connected with the roads and transport routes they need and deserve.”

Daracon Group led the construction of the two Owens Road bridges, while Toisch Pty Ltd was contracted to deliver the Pointers Road bridge.

All works were completed on time and under budget.