The bridge was off limits to traffic from July 5 as a safety measure after underwater inspections identified major structural issues with the bridge pylons.

Port Macquarie-Hastings Council put interim measures in place to assist residents as only emergency vehicles and foot traffic were permitted to cross during the temporary bridge closure.

The bridge reopened on an intermittent basis, with conditions, on Monday afternoon [August 30].

A council spokesperson said after considerable investigations and consultation, the council determined that from Monday [August 30], it would reopen the bridge, albeit under strict conditions of a low load limit of five tonnes and single-lane only.

"We are initially opening intermittently because we are doing investigative works above and below the bridge (including dive work) to inform the repairs," the spokesperson said.

"We will continue to monitor and assess the bridge and all related risks."

Opening and closing the bridge will also be dependent on repairs, tides, weather conditions and any serious detected movement in the bridge.

The bridge is now intermittently open to traffic, and from September 7, the span will have permanent opening and closing hours.

Rawdon Island resident Pauline Chapman said the latest developments represented a step ahead but were inconclusive.

"It's definitely a step ahead because we have [vehicle] access to the mainland at some points in time but I'm still anxious about when we don't have access," she said.

Mrs Chapman said the temporary reopening didn't suit her work needs however it was good to be able to fill the island car with petrol without having to carry jerry cans across the bridge and pick up heavier items which they previously had to cart across the bridge.

She wants information about the council's future plans for the bridge and how the council derived its reopening approach, as well as more information about the bridge opening and closing hours.

The bridge, spanning the Hastings River, is a vital connection to the mainland for about 50 households on the island.

The 164 metre-long Rawdon Island bridge was built in 1961.

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