Few people would be as keen to see the new Horsearm Creek bridge opened than Bailey Street resident Ian Bailey.
“I have been using the old bridge for 82 years,” he said.
“It’s time for a new one.”
His wish and other bridge users’ dream is soon to come true.
As unofficial mayor of Stoney Creek, Road, Mr Bailey has been a long time advocate for a replacement of the ageing timber structure which once carried Newell Highway traffic.
“It was built in 1932,” he said.
Now, the new one is almost completed. Workers are putting the finishing touches to the approaches.
The Horsearm Creek bridge is one of the aged timber bridges being replaced across the shire. The old bridge was closed at the end of last year and work on the new bridge started. Traffic is re-routed around past the saleyards.
Bailey Street, just across the creek, is home to six families and about 30 families including Stoney Creek Road residents are regular users of the bridge Mr Bailey said, as well as school buses, visitors to the Narrabri cemetery and workers going to the electricity sub station.
Mr Bailey is a historian of Narrabri’s earlier days.
“The Horsearm Creek bridge was built to give access to Narrabri for Stoney Creek Road settlers,” he said.
“The previous crossing was ‘corduroy, that is a causeway made of tree trunks which was regularly cut by flooding.
The timber bridges were built by the council of the day and have lasted about 100 years.
“In the later years the single lane horse and sulky bridge became the highway crossing. It wasn’t designed for such traffic, with a limit of 16 tonnes, and many upgrades were undertaken.
“The 1955 flood saw both approaches washed away, but the old bridge stood the test.
“She has seen a few attempts to burn her down and has been the scene of a few accidents.
“Once a semi trailer laden with potatoes missed the entrance and took out the complete southern side railings and ended up in the creek.
“Another night a cowboy returning from Gurley rodeo hit the left hand post, ricocheted into the other side, the rail speared through the windscreen missing his head by inches.
“Regular traveller Anne Rae remembers crossing Horsearm Creek bridge every day rain, hail or shine to bring five kids in to school by horse and sulky.”
Nowadays, Newell Highway traffic is routed well away from the old crossing and the volume of travellers has diminished over the still important structure.
Mr Bailey is looking forward to an official opening.
“Then we should move on to increased lobbying to having warning lights and bells installed at the rail crossing on the western approaches to the bridge,” he said.
“It is a real danger to motorists and trains – visibility is very limited as you approach the rail lines.”
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