crossing for vehicles up to five tonne. This arrangement was to have been in place until 2008. In September 2006 ACT Roads advised that the Tharwa Bridge would be closed for three months, and later announcing the bridge was to be closed for an indefinite period. Barriers were put in place to close off the bridge to road, cycle and pedestrian traffic. Traffic was diverted north to Point Hut low level crossing. In the event of that crossing being closed due to flooding, the only other high level bridge in the area is near the Cotter Dam. In October 2006 the ACT Government announced its decision to construct a single lane concrete bridge with a pedestrian walkway adjacent to the existing bridge. Construction was intended to begin in 2007, however this plan was abandoned in favour of a decision to restore the old bridge, with construction getting underway in April 2008. The bridge was reopened in August 2008 to light traffic less than 5 tonnes. The second phase of the project was completed in February 2010 with the foundations improved to withstand major flooding. The third and final phase of the restoration involved further closure of the bridge to public use to allow for the replacement of the timber trusses, new timber deck, and steel railings. The bridge was re-opened to the public on 24 June 2011, with work ongoing and was completed in September 2011. Ray Wedgwood, Chief Bridge Engineer of the NSW Roads & Traffic Authority and the NSW Department of Main Roads (DMR), with former Chief Bridge Engineer Brian Pearson, successfully advocated for the bridge to be repaired and upgraded, instead of being demolished, and provided technical advice to the ACT Government about the heritage issues and structural refurbishment of the bridge. In July 2018 the bridge again closed for annual maintenance work for three days. The bridge closed from Wednesday 18 July until Friday 20 July 2018 between 9 am and 3.30 pm. The maintenance included tightening of the bridge’s decking and trusses. Weather conditions over the last 12 months may have caused them contraction or expansion. See also List of buildings and structures in the Australian Capital Territory References External links Historic Tharwa Bridge Tharwa Bridge Reserve Friends of Tharwa Bridge Department of Territory and Municipal Services - Tharwa Bridge Allan truss bridges Bridges completed in 1895 Road bridges in the Australian Capital Territory Crossings