Grafton bridge options released

Member for Clarence Chris Gulaptis announces the six proposed routes for the new Grafton bridge.

Adam Hourigan

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• Option E
• Option A
• Option C
• Option 11
• Option 14
• Option 15
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A PREFERRED site for a second Grafton bridge is expected to be identified by June this year following the release of a short-list of six.

Clarence MP Chris Gulaptis, in releasing the new options, said five of the six now on the table had been developed through a community and stakeholder workshop held in November last year and the sixth was developed by Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) staff.

He said the cost of the six options outlined ranged from $163 million to $389 million, but declined to give his preference, saying he wanted to be part of the consultation process that would be undertaken to finalise the site.

"We need to have something to meet the traffic needs for perhaps the next 100 years, so we need to discuss that with the community to make sure we get it right," Mr Gulaptis said.

He said landholders of the 120 properties potentially affected by the options were notified by mail and RMS staff were attempting to contact the remainder by phone.

"We're trying to provide as much information as we can to allay any fears people might have."

He said the Government wanted to ensure it met its pre-election commitment to have the bridge substantially started by the next State election.

Riverside Dr, South Grafton, resident Heather Roland said she was dumbfounded to find one of the six options, which she said was ruled out in 2004 workshops, had been included.

The six options are:

• option E - Cowan Street, South Grafton to Villiers Street, Grafton
• option A - parallel to and immediately upstream of the existing bridge connecting Bent Street, South Grafton and Fitzroy Street, Grafton
• option C - junction of Pacific Highway and Gwydir Highway, South Grafton to Pound Street, Grafton
• option 11 - existing Pacific Highway north of South Grafton to Fry Street, Grafton
• option 14 - existing Pacific Highway north of South Grafton to North Street Grafton via Kirchner Street
• option 15 - existing Pacific Highway north of South Grafton to Summerland Way north of Grafton, via Kirchner Street