The trial closure of the Edmondson Street Bridge is finally set to begin on Saturday night. Photo: Chris Roe.
The highly controversial trial closure of the Edmondson Street Bridge is finally set to begin on Saturday night (22 November), amid fears traffic impacts will be worse than expected.
After months of delays, the trial closure will run for two weeks, aiming to provide Inland Rail with clear data and traffic routes for when the bridge is demolished in 2026.
Following the trial, Wagga Wagga City Council, Transport for NSW, the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, Inland Rail and Martinus will collectively determine whether the bridge will remain closed for 18 months, allowing Inland Rail to build a new bridge to accommodate double-stacked trains.
The closure has received consistent pushback and frustration from local leaders and residents.
Wagga resident and former media personality Moyra Shields said that despite the imminent closure, Inland Rail had underestimated the impact the bridge closure would have.
“They’re going ahead with this trial and the closure with this assumption that everything’s going to be fine. I don’t think anyone is convinced that it’s going to be,” Ms Shields said.
“They’ve said the closure is only going to add 10 minutes to people’s travel time. Well, if it does hold up traffic for 10 minutes, that’s going to have a huge cumulative impact around Wagga as a whole.
“The way this project has been approved, with little public consultation, is really quite frustrating.”
Alongside the closure of the Edmondson Street Bridge, other roadworks affecting detour routes are also underway, including the widening of Marshalls Creek Bridge.
Ms Shields said work such as that occurring on the Marshalls Creek Bridge hadn’t been considered in regard to traffic wait times and detours.
“You’d imagine that Transport for NSW must have known that Inland Rail was happening at the same time as the two years of the Marshalls Creek Bridge widening project,” she said.
“There definitely should have been more consideration of that impact at least. Ultimately, these people are rail operators, not traffic engineers.”
Despite the fears, Inland Rail is encouraging residents with concerns to visit drop-in sessions around Wagga.
Inland Rail acting CEO Ed Walker said representatives from Martinus, Wagga Wagga City Council, Transport for NSW, the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure and local emergency services were working alongside Inland Rail to support the trial.
“To help keep traffic moving, we encourage you to plan your trip, allow a little extra time, and, if possible, travel outside the morning and afternoon peak periods,” he said.
“You can speak to the Inland Rail team with any questions or feedback at one of our upcoming community drop-in sessions in Wagga Wagga and surrounding suburbs.
“We thank the Wagga Wagga community again for your patience and support as we implement the Edmondson Street Bridge closure.”
The times of the community drop-in sessions can be found here.
