Mayor Dallas Tout, Minister Sam Farraway and Dr Joe McGirr MP. Photo: Supplied.
The potential duplication of the Gobbagombalin Bridge was a cautious ‘maybe’ in the state government’s newly released roadmap for transport in Wagga.
NSW Minister for Regional Transport and Road Sam Farraway unveiled the long-term plan on Tuesday and committed to “investigating” the need for the “very expensive” second bridge to the booming northern suburbs.
“We need to do the work with Council to identify at what point that bridge upgrade would be required, what it would cost, the feasibility and also any other considerations.,” Mr Farraway said.
The Gobbagombalin Bridge is the primary river crossing linking the CBD to the expanding suburbs of Booroma, Estella and Gobbagombalin. It will also be an important connection to the industrial precinct and rail hub at Bomen.
Local independent member Dr Joe McGirr said it was good that a second bridge was “front and centre”, while Wagga Mayor Dallas Tout was pleased to have something in writing.
“If it’s not going to happen in the next five or 10 years then there has to be planning done,” said Cr Tout.
“The Community will be very, very happy that it’s actually on the agenda in a document that everyone is accountable for.”
Peak morning congestion on the northern side of the bridge. Photo: Wagga Wagga Transport Plan.
The Wagga Wagga Transport Plan looks ahead across the next two decades to consider a more efficient and accessible transport network and is the first of its kind for a regional city in NSW.
The plan identified 35 initiatives that “will help propel the transport services and infrastructure for Wagga Wagga towards the 2041 vision”.
Dr McGirr was encouraged by the broad approach that he feels will improve the lives of people in Wagga and also support business growth.
“The community provided a lot of feedback on the draft plan and it is great to see much of that has been considered in the final plan,” he said.
“I am encouraged by the initiatives around safe transport, cycling and family-friendly transport, as well as initiatives to try to reduce congestion and improve access and transport for freight.
“It is also great to see support of the special activation precinct.”
Investigating a southern bypass around Wagga is also on the agenda to reduce congestion and lessen the number of heavy vehicles crossing through the city on the Sturt Highway.
Committee 4 Wagga’s proposed heavy vehicle alternate route. Photo: Supplied
The plan lists “21 short-term initiatives that will be delivered, planned for, or investigated within the next five years”, including the bypass and the Gobbagombalin Bridge duplication.
Both are listed “for investigation”.
When the plan was initially released for community consultation a year ago, then Minister for Regional Roads Paul Toole suggested that the bridge would not be “recommended in the short to medium term”.
This was echoed in the final version which looks at alternatives such as road and intersection upgrades on the Olympic Highway on either side of the bridge and opening up alternative routes to direct more traffic through North Wagga and across the Wiradjuri Bridge.
“With appropriate traffic management, the capacity of the bridge is sufficient in the short to medium term,” it stated.
“While duplication of Gobbagombalin Bridge is not being considered as part of this work, the proposed intersection upgrades will improve safety, access and traffic efficiency for this increasingly busy area.”
But Dr McGirr remained optimistic.
“They are clearly both long-term projects but we need to start work and it’s great to have them on the agenda,” he said.
The Wagga Wagga Transport Plan can be downloaded here.
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