Phillip Hughes has been honoured with a new bridge over the Nambucca River near his rural NSW hometown to be named after the late Australian cricketer.
Hughes, who grew up in Macksville, died in November 2014 after being struck in the neck in a freakish accident while batting for South Australia against NSW at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
A new Pacific Highway bridge over the river, part of a bypass around his hometown which marks the halfway point between Sydney and Brisbane, will be known as The Phillip Hughes Bridge.
NSW Roads Minister Melinda Pavey said Hughes' family and Nambucca Shire Council supported the decision, as did the local community.
"Phillip Hughes was a role model for young people from the Macksville community as well as the rest of the country for his dedication and determination to succeed," Mrs Pavey said in a statement on Saturday.
"His death had an enormous impact on Australians and cricket fans in particular and prompted the hash tag - Put Out Your Bats.
"This is a fitting tribute to a fine young local who was taken too soon."
The left-handed opening batsman played 26 Tests for Australia, making his debut in 2009 at the age of 20.
He died on November 27, 2014, three days before his 26th birthday, having never regained consciousness after being struck on the neck by a bouncer on November 25.
