The long-awaited upgrade of the Albacutya bridge has received Federal Government funding as part of the latest rounds of their Bridges Renewal Program and the Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program.

The need to upgrade this bridge over Outlet Creek on the Albacutya Road north of Rainbow has been a hotly debated topic in recent years. It is on a major route for trucks serving several gypsum mines in the area but also forms the only reliable access road for farmers and residents west of the lake.

The current bridge, which is nearly 100 years old, is a single lane structure that has been subject to load and speed restrictions since 2016, and the threat of closure due to its condition for several years now.
This funding is for a new two-lane structure over Outlet Creek and a 1.2 kilometre narrow stretch of Albacutya Road on a bend with a crest widened to make this heavily used truck route safer for all road users.
A total of $2.14 million has been allocated through the Australian Government funding under Round 5 of the Bridges Renewal Program (BRP) and Round 7 of the Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program (HVSPP) to this project. This is in addition to the state funding announced in August 2017.

This is amongst twenty from across the Mallee electorate that will receive a share of more than $290 million in this round of funding.

Federal Member for Mallee, Anne Webster, said “Local transport companies and businesses rely on our roads and bridges being adequate for safety. The Rainbow township and the Hindmarsh Council have spoken to me about these important projects, especially the Albacutya Bridge. I am very excited this has been awarded funding this time around.”

Other local projects to receive funding through these programs include -
  • $1.5 million for constructing two floodways, and widen 5.6 kilometres of the Berriwillock-Birchip Road
  • $122,985 to 1 km road widening a bend with sight issues and straight on 1 kilometre of the Lorquon Road at Jeparit
  • $158,748 to widen severely failed pavement on a narrow sealed section of the Kiata North Road
  • $2 million for upgrade works on the Henty Highway between Horsham and Lascelles which will include widening and sealing of shoulders, and the addition of wide centreline treatment where appropriate
  • $50,00 to renew the Dunmunkle Creek Crossing on the Minyip-Banyena Road at a location 5.7 km east of the Stawell Warracknabeal Road.