Major works to begin on new Marshalls Creek Bridge NSW

Construction will commence this month on the new Marshalls Creek Bridge, a project that will greatly improve journeys for the more than 20,000 vehicles travelling on Sturt Highway through Wagga Wagga every day. 

The first sod has been turned on this $30 million project, which is funded by the New South Wales Government. 

The new Marshalls Creek Bridge will be 30 metres long and 23.8 metres wide, and it will include: 

• Four 3.5-metre-wide traffic lanes 

• Two 2.5-metre-wide shoulders 

• A 3-metre-wide shared path on the southern side of the bridge and a 1.8-metre-wide footpath on the northern side of the bridge 

• Upgraded bridge approaches and widened section of the Sturt Highway to four lanes 

Once the new bridge is completed, it will improve traffic flow in the area by eliminating the bottleneck created the existing bridge. It will also provide safer pedestrian and cyclist access with the shared path on the southern side and a footpath on the northern side of the new bridge. 

The Sturt Highway is a strategic freight and access link from Sydney, via the Hume Highway to Mildura in Victoria and on to Adelaide in South Australia. 

It also serves as an arterial route within Wagga Wagga, and it provides a vital east/west link for local businesses and residents to move across the city. 

“This is such an exciting milestone for the 20,000 motorists travelling on this road every day as major works start to deliver a safer, stronger and more efficient Marshalls Creek Bridge. 

“The new bridge will also deliver improved safety with a dedicated shared path on one side and a footpath on the other, meaning pedestrians and cyclists no longer have to compete with traffic on a narrow bridge. 

“This project will improve traffic flow on the Sturt Highway by replacing the existing two-way and two-lane crossing, doubling the number of lanes available and removing the need to merge,” Minister for Roads Jenny Aitchison said. 

To minimise the project’s impact on the community, traffic flow will be maintained through the project area as much as possible while works are being carried out. Full closures will be required at times but will be limited as the new bridge is going to be built in stages over two years to help limit the pressure on Wagga Wagga’s transport network. 

Once site fencing is up and heavy machinery in place, the first stage of major construction works will include building a temporary pedestrian bridge over Marshalls Creek before removing the existing footpath on the bridge and a traffic shift to accommodate the first half of the project. 

Transport for NSW will continue working closely with the contractors to ensure pedestrian access over the creek and active travel connections on Wiradjuri Track are maintained during construction. 

Motorists travelling this route are advised to drive to the conditions and follow the directions of signs and traffic control. 

“This project is a real win for our local community. For too long, motorists in East Wagga Wagga have had to battle traffic bottlenecks and serious safety concerns at Marshalls Creek Bridge and today marks the start of fixing those problems. 

“The Sturt Highway is not just a freight route, it’s an everyday road for locals – parents getting kids to school, workers heading to jobs, and businesses moving good around our city. 

“Once complete, the new bridge will make daily travel safer and quicker for thousands of people right here in Wagga Wagga, while also improving access for pedestrians and cyclists,” Independent Member for Wagga Wagga Dr. Joe McGirr said. 

Source: NSW Government – Media Releases; Transport for NSW (1, 2)