The bridge will be closed to all traffic for yet-to-be determined periods with the $2.5 million project to take at least a year to complete.

The bridge is in the heart of a major industrial hub of Orange and is on the direct route from the CBD to the hospital and facilities at the Orange Health Service.

Orange City Council will look at creating detours along neighbouring roads including Anson and Edward streets.

However there are schools on Anson Street where traffic will have to be restricted during school hours.

A report to go to council on Tuesday night states that work will start in May with completion not due until June 2018.

“The works will require long term closure of the existing bridge,” the report states.

“Council staff will undertake comprehensive consultation with users of Peisley Street who will be affected by this closure.”

Mayor Cr John Davis said on Monday council would seek to minimise disruption to motorists.

“The $2.5 million project to upgrade the railway bridge in Forest Road is going to be a huge investment in the infrastructure of Orange,” he said.

“The project is in the final design stages before it goes out to tender in the coming months.”

“We’ll be asking for the patience of Orange residents when work gets underway but we’ll be doing all we can to minimise the impact of the project.”

Cr Davis said the work would be examined through a Review of Environmental Factors’ (REF) assessment.

“This means a team of consultants looks at not only the bridge itself, but the potential problems that could happen during the construction phase,” he said.

“They’ll be looking at factors including detours around the bridge site, and how best to manage traffic flow when the roads and parts of the roads need to be closed.

“We want to listen to community views on these matter so the whole REF will be up for comment later this month and residents and businesses in the area will have the opportunity to have their say,” Cr Davis said.