Two heritage-listed rail bridges on the highly anticipated Northern Rivers Rail Trail have been fully restored, with a 2023 opening scheduled for the Tweed section.
The bridges in question are the Dunbible Creek Rail Bridge, about 12km south of Murwillumbah, and the Burringbar Under Bridge No. 1 near Mooball. The bridges were first opened in 1894.
The Northern River Rail Trail project is being delivered in four sections. The 24km Tweed section, where the two restored bridges are located, spans between Murwillumbah and Crabbes Creek in Queensland.
Work commenced on restoring the bridges in February 2022 and have been an important stepping-stone in completing the Tweed section of the Northern Rivers Rail Trail.
The Mayor of Tweed Shire Chris Cherry said, “You can sense the excitement building in the community as we start the countdown to the rail trail opening early next year and will be a great addition to our vibrant community”.
The Northern Rivers railway line has been non-operational since 2004, was formally closed on 15 October 2020 when legislation passed its second reading in the NSW Upper House.
In the same year, NSW Treasury signed a deed providing $7.8 million towards the Tweed section of the rail trail. The federal government in 2018 committed $6.5 million to Tweed Shire Council for the trail.
The Tweed section was funded at federal level as part of the Regional Jobs and Infrastructure Package Fund, and at state level under the Restart NSW fund.
Once completed, the full 132km Northern Rivers Rail Trail will connect the towns Murwillumbah, Byron Bay, Bangalow, Lismore and Casino.