Wagga’s traffic congestion will be targeted by a $30 million state government roads upgrade but not a Gobba bridge duplication.
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NSW Roads, Maritime and Freight minister Melinda Pavey said the government "would do the best with the infrastructure we have” by improving intersections and widening roads.
Ms Pavey would not commit to a duplication of the Gobbagombalin Bridge, the main link to Wagga’s fast-growing northern suburbs.
Estella Progress Association members have been calling for the duplication ahead of a new school opening in the area.
Ms Pavey joined Liberal byelection candidate Julia Ham at the Travers Street and Olympic Highway roundabout in windy and rainy conditions on Friday morning for the announcement.
The focus on “fixing two major traffic congestion areas in Wagga” will see the addition of turning lanes at the Gobba Bridge on the Olympic Highway and widening to four lanes at Marshall’s Creek Bridge on the Sturt Highway.
“It’s a $30 million package to ensure that we can improve the intersections here at the Gobba Bridge and also to continue the work so that we can have double lanes on the Sturt Highway at Marshall’s Creek Bridge,” Ms Pavey said.
“These are very significant improvements to the network around Wagga, not just in terms of commuters, not just in terms of safety, but also in terms of freight – having the ability to move the products that this region is so famous for producing.”
Ms Ham said making the Sturt Highway wider would also allow for a wider pedestrian walkway and improved traffic flow by eliminating lane mergers.
Ms Pavey’s office said geotechnical investigations, environmental assessments and concept design work would begin immediately.
As the planning work was just starting, further details on the works to be included in the $30m package were not available from Ms Pavey’s office.
Ms Pavey also made no commitments about improving Wagga’s road connection to Canberra, such as upgrading Brindabella Road to reduce travel times.
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