Ian Archer, senior project manager for Roads and Maritime Services (RMS), said residents could expect to see work on both sides of the Clyde River over the coming weeks.

“Our contractor John Holland has been working hard,” he said.

“As of this week, the demolition of the old bowling club will begin to take place. Residents will notice that there is fencing up around the site, and the sub-contractors are starting to strip out the inside of the building.

“Over the next couple of weeks people will start to notice the building start to come down.

“As well as that, people may have noticed, on the northern side of the river, near Korners park, there’s been some drilling machines parked up near the cliff line.

“They’re doing some under-bore work, under the river, to provide conduits for future telecommunications and power cables that need to be relocated to make way for the new bridge.”

He said roadworks opposite the bowling club were not related to the bridge.

Construction was expected to start in early 2019. The existing bridge will be demolished when the new bridge is open to traffic.

Eurobodalla Shire Council leased the former Batemans Bay bowling club site to RMS during construction.

Councillors agreed to grant the lease at the June 12 council meeting, following negotiations with RMS since December 2017.

The site will be used by RMS as the main compound for the bridge project and will include a temporary office and storage for vehicles, materials, plant and equipment.

The lease commenced July 1, 2018 for a three-year term with a one-year extension option.

Demolition of the former bowling club building is permitted as part of the lease, and was the preferred option for RMS to allow more efficient use of the site.The council said the site was worth more with the building demolished. It is more cost effective for ratepayers if RMS demolish the building.