Transport for NSW formally rejects calls for duplication of Heathcote Road bridge over Woronora River
Transport for NSW has defended its decision to widen, rather than duplicate, the Heathcote Road bridge over Woronora River, saying "the additional cost, complexity, and timeframes are not currently considered justified".
The transport authority has released a report responding to submissions to the Review of Environmental Factors.
There were 48 submissions, including 44 from the general community and four submissions from government agencies - NPWS, DPI Fisheries, Heritage NSW and Sutherland Shire Council.
The "need" for bridge duplication or additional lanes appeared to be the principal issue.
Transport for NSW's response, in summary, was:
"The need to improve road safety along the Heathcote Road bridge and its approaches was
prioritised over the need to improve the capacity of the Heathcote Road bridge to cater for future
traffic growth, as this is not an immediate concern
"It is not considered possible to build a bridge duplication or additional lanes in the short-term due to
the substantial additional time (compared to the widening option) that would be required to complete
construction, property acquisition, environmental assessment and approval processes
"Bridge widening may result in very similar safety and traffic flow benefits to a bridge duplication, in
the short-term with the road in its current configuration, as the main issues currently appear to be a
result of vehicles navigating the narrow lanes of the Heathcote Road bridge, which acts as a pinch
point
"The additional cost, complexity, and timeframes associated with the bridge duplication option are not
currently considered justified.
"The feasibility of providing a new bridge or additional lanes along Heathcote Road in the future would be
investigated as part of the separate Heathcote Road duplication project, which has had $35 million in funding announced in November 2020.
"The preferred option and timeframe for this potential longer-term
solution are yet to be determined as investigations are still in the early stages."
Transport for NSW's response to submissions. Picture: supplied
Key features of the project are:
- Widening of the bridge by about 1.4 metres on each side to provide one wide 3.5 metre lane in each
direction with 1.2 metre shoulders.
- Widening and adjustments to the northern and southern bridge approaches, up to a length of about
250 metres either side of the bridge, to improve road alignment, increase lane and shoulder widths and
reinstate the existing breakdown bays either side of the bridge.
- New bored-pile retaining walls to support the slope along both bridge approaches, which would be up to
two metres high and range in length up to 100 metres.
Heathcote MP Lee Evans said the next steps in the project included the awarding of tender, which would be announced in late 2021, with work on the detailed design to follow.
Holsworthy MP Melanie Gibbons MP said survey work on the government's long term duplication plans for Heathcote Road would start in July and continue until late 2021.
Ms Gibbons said the proposed duplication was "from Lucas Heights to Holsworthy".
"The NSW Government has provided $35 million for this important stage of work." Ms Gibbons said.
When Minister for Transport and Roads Andrew Constance announced the funding last year, he said the it was to plan the duplication of the entire Heathcote Road.
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