Calls for re-think on bridge plan

THE Dubbo chapter of The Australian Taxpayers' Alliance claims the state government is ignoring the concerns of locals by pushing ahead with plans to build the River Street Bridge. But Member for Dubbo Troy Grant is adamant the NSW government has never said one or the other has to be built. ATA Dubbo President Mick Etheridge believes there are better alternatives to the bridge and is calling on the state government to listen to Dubbo citizens': "Taxpayers in NSW will be forced to shell out $140 million for a bridge that seven out of ten Dubbo residents (who responded to the council's survey) don't want," he said. "It is a bridge to nowhere; it won't improve traffic flow during a flood as the route and bridge are still in a flood zone. "It won't provide access from the north into Dubbo's CBD during a flood and it won't improve traffic flow and congestion in Dubbo. "A by-pass road would resolve Dubbo's traffic problems and flooding issues while costing taxpayers less, and falling into line with the concerns of the community!' However, Mr Grant said the River Street Bridge is not designed to ease the day-to-day congestion in West Dubbo. "The bridge's primary objective is to provide a second flood crossing for Dubbo to allow traffic to get from one side of a bulging Macquarie River to the other;' he said. "When the Serisicr Bridge went under in 2010, the LH Ford Bridge was the only way to cross the river. It was utter chaos. In the event of the next major flood that engulfs the Serisier Bridge, River Street will allow traffic to get into the northern part of Dubbo, and access the Newell and Golden Highways without diverting through the CBD." Mr Grant said the second part of the government's plan to deal with congestion would be a 'bypass' from Tomingley to Eumungerie that will allow vehicles that don't need to come through Dubbo to go around Dubbo. ncr  "Money was given to Narromine Council to investigate what work would need to be done and it is believed that such a 'bypass' would drastically reduce the levels of traffic, heavy vehicles in particular, that enter West Dubbo and create the congestion," he said. "The NSW government, are not against a bypass or ring road and that is why we have spent money looking into the Tomingley to Eumungerie option:'

This article first appeared on Daily Liberal 25 January 2019