Only a matter of months remain before the bridge will be open to traffic, so no stone is being left unturned by officials on either the Victorian or NSW side of the river in finalising exactly how the bridge will service both parties.
While the meetings have been ongoing for almost two years, the local government authorities are keen to lock both state governments’ road entities into an aligned plan for the flow of traffic.
With the fast-approaching opening of the bridge Campaspe Shire’s general manager infrasturure Jason Deller and Murray River Council’s recently appointed director of infrastructure Jack Bond will lead discussions.
The intention is to have VicRoads and Transport for NSW working for the same goal of re-directing most, if not all, heavy vehicle traffic across the new bridge.
Murray River Council chief executive officer Terry Dodds said having the the two state road authorities sharing the same philosophy was vital to the successful re-routing of traffic.
The new bridge is expected to attract about 40 per cent of the traffic passing between the states on the existing bridge.
VIcRoads and Transport for NSW have been involved in ongoing discussions with the councils to ensure not only are plans aligned, but also time frames.
"We have had heaps of meetings about this. Mainly centred on how to get the most use out of new bridge,“ Mr Dodds said.
“From day one that the new bridge is open we want to make sure they are aligned and the timing is perfect.”
He said light traffic movement was not really the issue, although a separate set of talks was occurring between the Murray River Council and the NSW road authority about the handover of Meninya St to the council.
Meninya St’s status will change from a major road to “regional” road once an independent assessment of the road is completed and the new bridge is opened.
“We did a walk through recently to inspect the road and there will be an in-depth engineering review done of the road,” Mr Dodds said.
“It will tell us the condition of the road before it is handed over to the council and whether it needs to be upgraded.
“Two things will happen, an upgrade or council will be paid by Transport for NSW to complete any work required.
“It is not a very onerous thing to do, but it needs to be done and agreed on.’’
