TRANSPORT for NSW will keep the Tooleybuc Bridge open until a new closure date to allow essential repair and maintenance work to take place is finalised.
Plans to close the bridge for six weeks starting on Monday were put on hold after NSW Minister for Transport Sam Farraway attended a community meeting this month.
“It’s been good to face the community, to look them in the eye and for them to look me in the eye and to talk pretty freely about the level of disruption that the original proposal had caused, and different ideas from the community about how we could conduct the maintenance of that bridge differently and what level of disruption they could live with or they could work around,” Mr Farraway told The Guardian.
“We will take the consultation, the feedback that we have heard, try and develop a new plan that is reflective of that feedback, causes the least amount of disruption, and a plan that we can take the community on that journey with us and hopefully support that community in the process of the maintenance being done.”
Transport for NSW regional director Sam Knight said the community would be presented with closure options for consideration in the coming weeks before any decision is made.
“Transport for NSW want to minimise impacts the closure of the bridge will have on the Tooleybuc community and others who rely on this important link,” Ms Knight said.
“We are working with engineers in considering what methods could be used in better minimising impacts, including a partial bridge closure and night works.
“We will meet with the community again to share the options and to discuss the timing of any closure to carry out these essential repairs and maintenance.”
Transport for NSW welcomes community feedback on the closure. Email views to murrayrivercrossing@transport.nsw.gov.au.
