Kiama Council has acted upon concerns from Councillor Matt Brown that the upgrades to the railway bridge on Terralong Street will create an eyesore that the local scenery could do without.

Cr Brown raised a question with notice at last month’s Council meeting to ask whether staff could liaise with Transport for NSW about the design of the collision bar on the railway bridge.

“I'm concerned about the aesthetics of what is occurring there and we, as a community, would like the best-looking upgrade of that collision bar, because the last one was particularly ugly,” he said.

“It is quite visually intrusive.”

A Council spokesperson said an artistic approach will be taken with the rail bridge.

“We understand that enhancing the visual appeal of the bridge and Kiama’s town centre is important to our community.

“As part of this commitment, Kiama Council is launching a new public artwork that will soon transform the underbridge wall on Terralong Street.

“Mural production is expected to begin in early to mid-November.”

Transport for NSW spent three weeks last month on work to upgrade the collision protection beams.

The work is being completed in stages during scheduled weeknight and weekend rail close-downs again from next Monday (13 October) to Friday 31 October.

The final stage includes creating a new median, some work on the footpaths, kerbs and gutter, removal of the old protection beams and painting.

A Transport for NSW Spokesperson said: “Safety is our number one priority.

“The Terralong Street rail bridge is a vital route for both passenger and freight trains, and the collision protection beams prevent overheight vehicles - like trucks, campervans, buses and cranes - from hitting and damaging the rail bridge.

“Sydney Trains has been undertaking work to replace the collision protection beams on the approach to the rail bridge on Terralong Street at Kiama to make them compliant with today’s safety standards.

“As part of the work, the crash beams were moved back five metres from the bridge and reinforced.”