Medlow Bath Bridge
Historic Imagery
Concept Sketches
Shaped by community engagement and consultation, the bridge has delivered a durable solution with a low visual impact on its environment, while embodying connections to Country and the history of the place.
The bridge has provided a staircase and lift on the western side, and a ramp on the eastern side, enabling the highway to be widened, reducing vehicle congestion and minimising the overall visual impact of the structure.
A First Nations pavement artwork by Shay Tobin of the Dharug Nation references the local Garada Garrayura (Black Cockatoo) – an emblem of ancestors watching over Ngurra (Country). The ridgeline, traced today by the highway, follows pathways long used by Aboriginal peoples moving across Country – this artwork acknowledges these enduring routes and the connections they sustain, whilst the bridge itself forms a gateway at the apex of the Mountains.
Construction
The project was delivered through a coordinated construction methodology, with major elements fabricated off site, reducing disruption to the highway to a total closure time of only 43 minutes. This approach contributed to the project achieving Transport for NSW’s highest sustainability rating, with a 22% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
The resulting infrastructure is both pragmatic and considered. It improves safety and connectivity while offering elevated views across the escarpment and Megalong Valley, reinforcing the experience of place and the relationship between the station, the hotel and the surrounding landscape.
Team
Peter Tonkin, Julie Mackenzie, Wolfgang Ripberger, Albie Tenedora, John Taliva’a, Alexandra Miletich.
Collaborators
DesignInc. TZG Heritage.
Consultants
GHD.
Contractor
Arenco.
Artist
Shay Tobin, Dharug Nation.
Photographer
Brett Boardman.
