JENNY AITCHISON
MINISTER FOR REGIONAL TRANSPORT AND ROADS

MEDIA RELEASE - MARSHALLS CREEK BRIDGE EARLY CONSTRUCTION WORK STARTS

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The Minns Labor Government is reducing travel times while improving road safety in Wagga Wagga by progressing the Marshalls Creek Bridge replacement project into the construction phase.

First promised by the former Liberal and Nationals Government in 2018, but never delivered, the project will improve traffic flow on the Sturt Highway by doubling the number of lanes available, removing the need to merge and improving access for all active road users.

The Minns Labor Government has committed $30 million to the project with early construction work due to start next week to prepare the Bridge site for major work that will begin later this year.

Work to relocate high pressure gas pipes will start on Thursday 20 February and is expected to take about three weeks to complete, weather permitting.

Work is also due to start on electrical relocations and street light adjustments, with this work expected to take 10 weeks to complete.

The detailed design for the new bridge is also now complete, with the new bridge to be 23.5 metres wide and 29 metres long, while also featuring:

• four 3.5-metre-wide lanes
• 2.5-metre-wide shoulders on either side of the bridge
• A 3-metre-wide shared path on the upstream side of the bridge
• A 1.8 metre footpath on the downstream side to improve pedestrian and cyclist access, with both paths connecting to the Wiradjuri walking track situated under the bridge.

The tender to construct the new bridge has closed and tenders are being assessed with the contract expected to be awarded in coming months.

Major construction work is expected to start in August and take about two years to complete, weather permitting.

Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison said:

“More than 20,000 cars travel this section of road every day and seven years ago all those motorists were promised a new bridge by the former government.

“That promise was never delivered, but most importantly safety was at risk. Having seen a crash at the site on my first visit and having heard from Dr Joe McGirr, council and the community I shared the community’s concern and am pleased the Labor Government has now finally been able to get the project moving into the construction phase.

“Like Dr Joe McGirr, who has been continuously advocating for this project to proceed, the Minns Labor Government understands growing regional communities need improved access to road and transport infrastructure like the new Marshalls Creek Bridge.”

Member for Wagga Wagga Dr Joe McGirr said:

“The bridge has been a traffic choke point and a safety risk for many years, so I thank the government for acting on the community’s wishes to build a safer, more efficient bridge on this very busy thoroughfare.

“This work is an important investment in Wagga Wagga’s transport future at a time when more infrastructure will be needed to meet the needs of a growing population.

“I acknowledge the government for prioritising this work over the Gobba intersection work, in line with community wishes, which would have compromised our ability to get a long-term solution to the Gobba situation.

“Among the next priorities now will be using the Northern Access Strategy to plan for critical transport works, including planning for the duplication of the Gobba Bridge – a vital project that will be essential to Wagga’s growth in coming years.”

MEDIA:

Wendy Fitzgibbon | Minister Aitchison | 0408 427 540

Paul Terry | Dr Joe McGirr MP | 0419 618 599