Cowra Council Mayor, Ruth Fagan says there is an urgent need for the NSW Government to recognise the bottlenecks and congestion at the Cowra Bridge crossing of the Lachlan River.
The Council has adopted a Mayoral Minute to contact the NSW Minister for Roads to advocate strongly for the construction of a state-owned, second crossing over the river.
“This Bridge is really the intersection of five highways and at the bottom of the Cowra main street making it a compelling case for the NSW Government to plan and build another bridge to ease the strain on local infrastructure,” said Mayor Fagan (pictured).
“The current situation is difficult to negotiate as local traffic is holding up the increasing numbers of large freight transporters. This will become unworkable as freight and other traffic volumes increase significantly in the coming years.”
The Mayor said a new mid-level bridge, not a replacement bridge, is one of the main project priorities in Cowra’s Strategic Plan.
“And we are advocating for this to go straight into the planning pipeline of Transport for NSW,” she said.
“We are disappointed, so far, with the response from Transport for NSW, who should understand the traffic issues here in Cowra and how crucial this central location is to the Central West and NSW transport network.”
The Mayor says she recently discussed the matter with the Minister for Regional Transport and Roads, Jenny Aitchison, who is expecting the Council’s letter of concern.
In a bid to garner wider support, the Council recommended a letter be addressed to the NSW Transport Minister, the NSW Minister for Regional Transport & Roads, the Federal Member for Riverina, Michael McCormack, and the NSW Member for Cootamundra, Steph Cooke. The letter seeks their backing for Council’s request to be included in Transport for NSW’s planning process and highlights the vital role Cowra plays in the regional and state transport network.
“We are committed to working collaboratively with all stakeholders to ensure the successful planning and implementation of this crucial infrastructure project. A new bridge will not only alleviate current traffic congestion but also support the future growth and development of Cowra and the broader Central West region,” said Mayor Fagan.
