Member for Wagga Dr Joe McGirr has expressed to the NSW Government his concerns about Inland Rail’s lack of plans for local traffic ahead of works to Edmondson Street set to begin in September. Photo: Chris Roe.
Member for Wagga Dr Joe McGirr has expressed his concerns about the lack of a public traffic plan from Inland Rail for Edmondson Street, as an 18-month construction period is set to begin in September.
The controversial so-called nation building project will begin construction on several bridges across Wagga’s railway line, including the heavily used Edmondson Street Bridge, to better suit double-stacked freight trains that will begin travelling through the city from 2027.
Inland Rail, which will see freight trains travel from Brisbane to Melbourne via Wagga’s CBD, has seen many critics, including Dr McGirr and members of Wagga Wagga City Council, with many local stakeholders pleading with Transport for NSW and Inland Rail to bypass the city.
Dr McGirr expressed his latest concerns about the project in parliament last week, with traffic control being the main point of contention.
Dr McGirr told the NSW Government that unless there was a guarantee from Inland Rail that traffic would flow freely through Edmondson Street, which has three major schools on it and connects to the Sturt Highway, the works should be put on hold.
“The long-term closure of the Edmondson Street Bridge is a particular concern,” Dr McGirr told the Legislative Assembly.
“(The closure) will strangle traffic movements and cause extreme congestion along alternative routes — not for days or weeks at a time but for one and a half years.”
We explained our alarm at the impact of closing a bridge which carries 10,000 vehicles per day,” Dr McGirr said.
“(Inland Rail) is only focused on delivering the project without regard to the chaos it will cause. It even refuses to conduct a trial closure of the bridge to accurately model the impact.”
Dr McGirr will continue to work with the council and Transport for NSW to find ways of mitigating the impact.
“If Inland Rail cannot guarantee effective traffic flow in Wagga by the start of September, then it should delay the work until it can demonstrate real measures to protect Wagga from this project.”
Inland Rail has since responded to Dr McGirr’s concerns, stating it is in constant talks with residents who will be affected by the street’s closure, and major stakeholders of Wagga Wagga.
“Inland Rail is continuing to consult and receive input from key stakeholders, including schools, emergency services, Wagga Wagga City Council, Transport for NSW and public transport service providers ahead of the planned closure period of Edmondson Street Bridge,” a spokesperson said.
“Inland Rail is committed to ensuring that all practical and feasible traffic mitigations have been considered relating to the closure of the bridge.
“When the planning is finalised for how traffic impacts from construction will be mitigated, detailed plans and information will be shared with the community so that all road users are aware of the approved traffic changes ahead of time.
“Information about the construction period and its impacts will be shared with the Wagga Wagga community on an increasingly regular basis over the next few months, keeping the community informed on the progress of the project, including the implementation of traffic management planning prior to and during the closure itself.
“Safety for local road users, including pedestrians, is a top priority for Inland Rail and we appreciate the ongoing patience and understanding of the local community and its road users.”
