Early works on $30m new Marshalls Creek Bridge NSW will commence soon

Early works will soon begin on the Marshalls Creek Bridge replacement project to pave the way for main construction activities to begin later this year. 

The New South Wales Government has committed $30 million towards this project that will improve safety and ease congestion at this known pinch point on the Sturt Highway. 

“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,” Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison said. 

From 20 February, work to relocate gas pipes will begin and will take up to three weeks to complete, weather permitting. During this time, some road shoulder closures will be observed to allow drilling to be carried out. 

The relocation of the existing overhead power network near the bridge along with street light adjustments will also begin in the coming weeks and will take about 10 weeks to complete. The project team will update the community of any traffic impacts before starting electrical works. 

Detailed design is now complete and key features of the new 23.5-metre-wide by 29-metre-long bridge include: 

• 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 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,” Member for Wagga Wagga Dr Joe McGirr said. 

The tender to build the new Marshalls Creek Bridge is closed and a contract is due to be awarded in June. 

Weather permitting, major construction is anticipated to commence in August, taking about two years to complete. 

Source: Transport for NSW (1, 2); Big Riggs