en.Wedoany.com Reported - The Golden Highway project, jointly advanced by the federal government and the New South Wales government, has reached a new milestone: a newly built flood-proof bridge over Mudies Creek in the Hunter region opened on Monday, July 13, aiming to enhance the resilience of regional infrastructure against disasters.

The new 30-meter-long bridge is approximately 5 meters higher than the old one and is designed to withstand a once-in-a-century flood. During severe weather events, the bridge will keep this critical regional route open for longer periods and allow for faster recovery of traffic after floodwaters recede.

New South Wales Minister for the Hunter Region, Yasmin Catley, stated that good infrastructure is not about handling daily traffic pressures but about holding up on the worst days—when the creek rises and there is only one road left. She noted that the Mudies Creek Bridge will ensure that farmers, truck drivers, and local families are not stranded when the weather turns bad next time, and the Golden Highway will continue to serve the people and industries that depend on it.

The upgrade is part of the $133 million Golden Highway project, co-funded by the federal government and the New South Wales government. Completed ahead of schedule, the project includes the construction of a new single-span bridge and the realignment of one kilometer of roadway to accommodate the bridge's location, while providing a flatter road surface.

Construction began in late 2024, and contractor Acciona employed up to 135 local and regional workers throughout the project. The new Mudies Creek Bridge is one of a series of upgrades along the Golden Highway aimed at improving safety, reliability, and flood resilience for regional communities and the freight industry that rely on this key freight corridor.