A traffic plan for the Edmondson Street Bridge still remains up in the air, with Wagga Wagga City Council and Transport for NSW yet to endorse the plan. Photo: Chris Roe.
Wagga businesses along Edward Street will remain in the dark as to how Inland Rail will operate until an official traffic plan is endorsed.
As Region previously reported, several businesses opposite the construction at the Edmondson Street Bridge are yet to receive consultation from Inland Rail, two months before works to the bridge are set to begin.
An Inland Rail spokesperson told Region the lack of consultation was because Wagga Wagga City Council (WWCC) and Transport for NSW were yet to endorse a traffic plan.
“The bridge closure will be conducted according to the Wagga Wagga Traffic Management Plan, which is currently in a collaborative review with Wagga Wagga City Council and Transport for NSW,” a spokesperson said.
“Engagement with the community regarding the impacts of the traffic management plan cannot take place until it has been approved.
“Following endorsement, the plan will be submitted to the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) for approval and then shared with the Wagga Wagga community.
“As delivery partner for the Albury to Illabo section of Inland Rail, Martinus Rail has commenced engaging more directly with businesses in the Edward Street area to discuss any concerns ahead of the closure and is focused on building these relationships as the project progresses.
“These ongoing engagements will ensure consistent two-way communication between business owners and Inland Rail, allowing the project to collaborate with all local businesses to keep them informed and supported throughout the construction period.
“Inland Rail has been engaging regularly with many key stakeholders in the Wagga Wagga community ahead of the planned closure period of Edmondson Street Bridge later this year.”
WWCC confirmed both it and Transport for NSW were yet to give the tick of approval to the proposed traffic plans.
“Under the project’s conditions of consent, Inland Rail is required to obtain approval for the traffic management plan from both council and Transport for NSW. Neither agency has provided final approval at this stage,” a WWCC spokesperson said.
“Both council and Transport for NSW have made it clear that they will not endorse the traffic management plan until they are satisfied that appropriate mitigation measures are in place to manage the impacts of the Edmondson Street Bridge closure.
“Council remains committed to ensuring that the community is appropriately informed and that all necessary safeguards are in place before any works proceed.”
WWCC has confirmed it and Inland Rail are in the process of trialling the conditions of the 18-month closure with a two-week closure before the works begin to gather a better understanding of traffic before it elects to endorse the traffic plan.
“Inland Rail has committed to a two-week trial shutdown of the Edmonson Street Bridge later in the year to confirm that the mitigation measures are effective before the bridge is removed,” a WWCC spokesperson said.
