Lin Hayden has resigned herself to spending the rest of her retirement years surrounded by the roar of traffic as a controversial development steamrolls ahead. 

Ms Hayden and her friend, Jenny O'Brien, mounted a campaign against the new Dubbo bridge, which is being built metres away from Ms Hayden's bedroom window on River Street.

A petition opposing the location received more than 11,000 signatures online, through doorknocking, and street walks in the town of nearly 40,000 people.

The petition was handed to the state government for parliamentary debate with the backing of Dubbo Regional Council, but did not lead to any changes.

During the previous term of council, Dubbo councillors discussed and promptly discarded the idea of blocking construction with council trucks.

Ms Hayden said the experience left her feeling disillusioned with the political process.

"We wrote to a lot of politicians, and I don't think we hardly got an answer from anybody," she said.

"I don't think anyone's been listened to."

Transport for NSW said the new bridge would reduce congestion and provide an alternative route for when other bridges were blocked by floodwaters.

Residents have been told they will have their windows soundproofed to reduce the sound of cars and freight trucks funnelled down their street.

A community campaign for an alternative Troy Bridge Road bypass has also lost steam as major works begin on the new bridge's foundations this month.

Ms O'Brien said she had no regrets about the campaign, even if it ultimately ended in failure.

"It was worth a try. We said to ourselves we have to have a go," she said.

Part of the land on their property will be fenced off, and high-voltage pylons will be built next to it.

The bridge is designed to serve as an alternate route over the Macquarie River into Dubbo when the lower-lying bridges are blocked by floodwaters, as happened in 2022.

The project has featured in more than a dozen government media releases re-announcing various stages of the bridge's construction.

A Transport for NSW spokesperson said they were continuing to work with affected residents to mitigate the effects of traffic noise.

"Consultation with residents impacted by the new Dubbo Bridge project started in 2017 when the preferred option was announced and is ongoing," the spokesperson said in a statement.

"The 660-metre crossing will improve traffic efficiency, reduce congestion for locals, visitors and the freight industry and improve access across the Macquarie River flood plain during extreme weather events."

The spokesperson said they were still in the process of acquiring land from residents on Bunglegumbie Road, on the opposite side of Macquarie River from River Street.

The bridge is expected to be completed in 2026.