Posted: 2024-11-17 06:44:21

For the residents of a smattering of homes surrounding the railway viaduct in Union Street, South Lismore, a sudden crunch of timber and steel is all too familiar. 

At more than a century old, the now disused rail bridge is "at risk of collapsing", according to signs fixed to its brick pylons. 

With a clearance of only 3.4 metres, the viaduct was described as a "graveyard" for buses and trucks by a local, who declined to be named.

Traffic cones mark out the scene of a bus becoming wedged beneath an old rail bridge.

A South Lismore local told the ABC such incidents on the bridge are a "semi-regular occurrence". (ABC North Coast: Max Tillman)

About 9am on Sunday morning, an empty NSW Trainlink bus became stuck under the bridge on its way back to the depot. 

No passengers were on board and the driver was unharmed.

South Lismore resident Andrew, who did not want to use his full name, says the rickety old viaduct tells a larger story. 

"South and North Lismore have a huge issue with these railway bridges," he says. 

"They're not being used for the rail, and this is a semi-regular occurrence."

A man and his partner look on at a bus wedged beneath a bridge in Lismore.

Andrew says many of the old rail bridges in Lismore pose an undue risk now they're no longer in use. (ABC North Coast: Max Tillman)

But the greater concern to Andrew is the state of the bridge itself. 

Large signs on the pillars warn of the dangers of falling debris and declare alarmingly to drivers and pedestrians that the structure is collapsing. 

"They're not safe," Andrew says. 

A large sign warns pedestrians of falling debris from an old rail bridge.

The Union Street rail bridge is flanked by signs warning of the possibility of a collapse. (ABC North Coast: Max Tillman)

"There are disclaimers that if you're standing underneath it and it collapses, 'Don't say we didn't warn you.'" 

In a statement to the ABC, Transport for NSW says despite the heavy signage warning of a potential collapse, no safety inspections were needed following this latest accident. 

The ABC asked the department about its longer-term plan for the bridge but no further information was available at the time of publication.

The Union Street viaduct is not the first in Lismore to be struck and damaged by vehicles. 

In October, a similar railway viaduct in Alexandra Parade, North Lismore, with a clearance of 3.5 metres, was temporarily shut to motorists following a vehicle strike. 

It now only allows vehicles with a clearance of 2.8 metres, but there are no plans to remove the viaduct. 

An old disused rail line is photographed from below.

A 130-year-old viaduct in Terania Street, South Lismore, was demolished in October following multiple vehicle strikes. (ABC North Coast: Max Tillman)

Another disused rail bridge, in Terania Street, North Lismore, was removed in October following multiple vehicle strikes.

The 130-year-old structure had been heritage-listed. 

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