The Martin Bridge is expected to reopen to light traffic by the end of the week.
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The bridge is closed as Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) personnel inspect damage caused by major flooding.
Member for Myall Lakes Stephen Bromhead said there was concern for the structural integrity of the bridge, damage to pylons and scaffolding used for ongoing repairs (unrelated to flood damage).
"They're (RMS) confident the integrity is good so next is removing all the scaffolding and we should have light traffic going across the bridge by the end of the week," Mr Bromhead said.
"There was significant damage to the scaffolding underneath where it was attached to the bridge."
RMS crews are also confident the pylons are in good condition.
Large objects such as a storage container, concrete tanks, silage bales, trees and kayaks slammed into the bridge during the flood and caused damage to the scaffolding.
Workers inspected the underside of the bridge by abseiling down the side of the trusses. They took photos and sent them to specialist bridge engineers to provide a safety assessment.
A preliminary assessment of the bridge was deemed positive but further investigations still need to be completed. The removal of scaffolding is the first priority before vehicles are allowed back on the bridge.
"The last thing we want is cars going across and have scaffolding fall off and hit them," Mr Bromhead said.
Repair works on the bridge, which started last year, will be delayed.
"Luckily up until early this year they were ahead of schedule. Where it will end up I don't know but hopefully it will still be finished within the two year period," Mr Bromhead said.
In the meantime, motorists can access Taree via Cundletown and the Dawson River Bridge.
The Martin Bridge closure caused heavy traffic from Main Street in Cundletown through to the Taree CBD throughout the week.
This bridge was closed last weekend due to major flooding and with the Pacific Highway also inaccessible, Cundletown, Lansdowne and Dumeresq Island residents were cut off from Taree.