The new concrete girder bridge will be the same height as the original bridge, featuring a 30-metre-long bridge deck with an additional six-metre approach on either end, two four-metre-wide traffic lanes, two-metre wide shoulders and wire mesh safety screens.

Transport is continuing to work with council on options for a dedicated pedestrian path across the rail line, which will be able to be added following construction of the new bridge.

Construction is expected to start on the permanent bridge this month and is expected to take about 12 months to complete, weather permitting.

Following this feedback, we are progressing with the current permanent bridge design and investigating options to provide improved pathways to help create a more connected village for all transport customers.

These options include:

• attaching a dedicated pedestrian and cyclist bridge to the new permanent bridge
• using the existing abutments of the temporary bridge, which support the end of a bridge deck, for a dedicated pedestrian and cyclist bridge.

To allow construction of the permanent bridge to progress, we’ve adapted the bridge design to allow a dedicated pedestrian and cyclist crossing to be added at a later date if there is community support and funding available.

Meanwhile, we are investigating safe active transport options on our roads as a priority to ensure safe crossings, with focus on pedestrian and cyclist safety in a low-speed environment.

Transport will continue to work with council and the community to explore funding opportunities to improve connectivity in the village.

Transport will continue to keep the community and stakeholders updated as the project progresses and will provide more information as soon as it is available.