Bridge focus for Horsham
Horsham leaders will continue planning for a second vehicle bridge across the Wimmera River as they work on plans to improve transport connectivity in the regional city.
Horsham mayor Robyn Gulline said the go-ahead for a $2.45-million pedestrian bridge at the eastern end of Hamilton Street ‘did not mean that planning for a second road bridge across the river was off the table’.
“As a council we are working with Regional Roads Victoria to develop a feasibility study for an alternative truck route through Horsham. This will include another vehicle bridge across the river,” she said.
State Government funding has provided Horsham with a green light to build a second major pedestrian bridge across the river.
The city already has an ANZAC commemorative pedestrian bridge spanning the river between Southbank and Barnes Boulevard.
The government will provide $1.225-million for the Hamilton Street project through its Regional Infrastructure Fund.
The Federal Government had last year already provided money for the project through a Local Roads and Community Infrastructure contribution.
The state announcement means Horsham Rural City Council will pay for the entire project with ‘external’ funding.
Cr Gulline said the council was grateful to state and federal governments for the financial support.
“I am proud that our council has been able to attract this substantial amount of money for a project in our regional city,” she said.
“It means the entire project’s construction will be funded at no cost to our ratepayers, which is a terrific outcome for the many community members who have called for this bridge to be constructed for years.”
The council approved a contract for the design and construction of the bridge at its latest monthly meeting.
It has informed the community work would begin immediately on detailed construction drawings and pre-fabrication of steel works. Its expectations are that on-site works will start in the second half of 2022, with an aim for construction of the bridge to be complete by December 31.
The pedestrian bridge will link newly developed residential areas on the southeast side of the Wimmera River with Horsham’s central business district, several schools and Wimmera Base Hospital.
The new pedestrian bridge will also link to walking trails along the Wimmera River to provide a continuous 10km loop along the river foreshore in central Horsham.
Plans for a second vehicle bridge in Horsham are part of plans investigating ways to create a heavy-vehicle route to remove highway truck traffic from the city’s heart.