Final step underway in damage assessment of new bridge at Melville

Maitland City Council continues to work closely with their specialist bridge contractor, Saunders Civilbuild, to finalise an in-depth assessment of the new bridge at Melville that was damaged during flood events in May and again in August.  

A key step of the assessment could only take place once flood waters had fully receded, at which point it became evident that the decking would need to be removed from the bridge to complete a comprehensive assessment of the damage.  

As the embankment has eroded due to the flood events, a 750-tonne crane is required to complete this assessment. This has presented some logistical challenges, however Saunders Civilbuild have been able to source a crane from Sydney that will be onsite from Monday 13 October 2025 to remove the decking from the piers. Once the crane is in place and deck planks removed, the assessment can take place week commencing Monday 20 October 2025.   

This is the last major step in the damage assessment and once complete, a repair plan will be developed by the contractors, as well as specialist independent engineers engaged by Council.  

Council and Saunders Civilbuild understand the impact these delays continue to have on surrounding residents and Maitland’s wider community, and they’re committed to working together to complete the new bridge in a timely manner.  

Council and Saunders Civilbuild wish to thank the community for their ongoing patience as they continue to work through this complex process. 

Maitland City Council’s Acting General Manager, Jason Linnane says “Council appreciates Saunders Civilbuild’s commitment to assessing the damage and working with us to plan the next phase of this project.” 

“The assessment process is complex and while we don’t have a timeframe yet, we do commit to keeping the community informed regularly,” Mr Linnane said.   

Saunders Civilbuild General Manager, Jonathon Bromilow says, “while the recent flood events have posed significant challenges, we remain committed to working safely, efficiently and in partnership with Council to deliver the new bridge at Melville.” 

This $8.2 million project is jointly funded by the NSW and Australian Governments, with contributions from Council.  

For more information on this project, visit mait.city/Melvillebridge