A new low level bridge for Cowra – it’s a topic that has already created much debate and is almost certain to be a popular water cooler topic for months to come.
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At a committee meeting this week Cowra Shire Councillors engaged in, at times, lively debate before finally deciding to continue investigations into three possible options for a new bridge
Two of the three options would see a new bridge coming off Redfern Street.
These options allow for a higher low level bridge which would be inundated by water less often than is currently the case.
On paper there appear no major issues with the take-off point which would also allow the Council to open up an extended area of the banks of the Lachlan River for recreational purposes – a major plus.
Where the road goes after the new bridge is another matter.
On a negative side one of the options, which appears unlikely to proceed, goes straight through the tennis courts and then joins up with the Lachlan Valley Way just west of the current main bridge where a roundabout would be located.
I’m sure the tennis club will have plenty to say regarding this option.
The other Redfern Street bridge road option skirts the tennis court complex goes under the traffic bridge and joins the Boorowa Road south of the McDonald’s restaurant entry.
The third option left on the table would see construction of a new bridge on the opposite side of the main traffic bridge to the current low level.
“This is a really important decision for this council, probably the most important decision we’ll make this term,” Cr Bruce Miller said during the council debate this week.
I’m sure his fellow councillors agree.
Cowra has been left saddled with traffic problems by the short sighted decision to construct the new new traffic bridge across the Lachlan adjacent to the site of the previous old wooden and steel bridge which linked West and East Cowra.
It’s because of this decision that we’re now talking about a possible heavy vehicle bypass for Cowra.
If it takes another couple of months of investigation and reports before council finally decides on which option to put to the Roads and Maritime Service and the relevant funding authorities it will be time and money well spent. It’s a decision Cowra can’t afford to get wrong.
