Planning for a new northbound Sheahan Bridge on the Hume Highway at Gundagai has cleared a major hurdle, with Transport for NSW confirming the on-alignment replacement as its preferred option.
The Australian Government has committed $16 million and the NSW Government $4 million, $20 million in total, to cover planning and investigations only. No construction funding has been announced. Infrastructure Magazine reported the milestone on 28 July 2026, after concept design and environmental assessment work by WSP Australia, which won that contract in January 2025.
The current northbound bridge dates to 1977. It stretches 1.14 km across the Murrumbidgee River on 27 spans. Load limits were lifted from 68 to 85 tonnes in 2020, but Higher Productivity Vehicles (HPVs) and Performance Based Standards (PBS) trucks still need permits to cross due to structural constraints. Those restrictions also limit contraflow options when the southbound bridge requires maintenance or emergency access. The project’s goal is to allow PBS vehicles to use the corridor without permit or restriction.
Authorities assessed three alternatives before settling on the on-alignment option: a new bridge upstream (east), a new bridge downstream (west), or strengthening the existing structure. The chosen option was judged to best balance freight efficiency, construction disruption, environmental impact and community outcomes.
NSW Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison put the stakes plainly: “The Hume Highway is the major freight corridor from Sydney to Melbourne, the oldest and busiest highway in Australia.”
Infrastructure Australia lists the project in its two-to-four-year investment pipeline, framing it as removing the last bridge restriction on the Hume Highway and strengthening national supply chain resilience.
For civil contractors, concreters, structural steel workers and heavy transport operators, this milestone marks the end of the investigation phase. An Environmental Impact Statement and a construction tender are the likely next steps. Given the project’s scale on Australia’s primary Sydney, Melbourne freight artery, procurement will be closely watched when it opens.
Frequently asked questions
Has construction funding been approved for the Sheahan Bridge replacement?
No. The $20 million committed by the Australian Government ($16 million) and NSW Government ($4 million) covers planning and investigations only. Construction funding has not been announced by either government.
Why does the Sheahan Bridge need replacing?
The current northbound bridge, built in 1977, has structural constraints that require Higher Productivity Vehicles and PBS trucks to hold permits before crossing, even after load limits were raised to 85 tonnes in 2020. The constraints also limit contraflow use when the southbound bridge needs maintenance.
What are the next steps for the project?
An Environmental Impact Statement and a construction tender process are the expected next steps. Infrastructure Australia places the project in its two-to-four-year investment pipeline.
Sourced from Infrastructure Magazine, Roads & Infrastructure Magazine, Infrastructure Australia, Transport for NSW. Original article.
