Construction of Echuca Moama Bridge reaches milestone, 55 years on from when it was first proposed

Wednesday 18 November 2020Wed 18 Nov 2020 at 2:22am

Bird's eye view of the newly constructed road and bridge connecting the towns of Echuca and Moama — An artist impression of the new bridge over the Murray River at Echuca Moama. (Supplied: Major Road Projects Victoria)

The building of a second bridge over the Murray River at Echuca Moama reached a key milestone this month, 55 years since the idea was first floated at local council.

Since 1965, the project has been the subject of decades of on-again-off-again funding commitments from various levels of government and a number of community campaigns, including one bluntly titled 'Build the bloody bridge!' in 2012.

But now, a new network of bridges over the Murray and Campaspe rivers are taking shaping, connecting the Murray Valley Highway and Warren Street at Echuca with the Cobb Highway at Perricoota Road in Moama.

Victorian Minister for Transport Infrastructure Jacinta Allan yesterday said the $323.7 million project is on track to be completed by mid-2022 and will take thousands of vehicles off the existing 142-year-old bridge and away from Echuca's centre.

Looking at the Murray River and seeing the scaffolding of the Bridge construction on both sides of the river. — The local community has been lobbying for a new crossing since 1965. (ABC Central Victoria: Erin Delahunty)

Ms Allan said the project, joint funded by the Federal, Victorian and New South Wales Governments, had overcome delays related to the pandemic and the closure of the New South Wales border.

"The project is progressing really well and when you consider this progress has been made [during a pandemic], the workforce has done a terrific job keeping the work going,"

she said.

'Massive project for Victoria'

Ms Allan said the installation of 125 super-T concrete beams, forming the decks of the new bridges, began recently, in an "exciting phase" of the project.

"This is a massive project for not just the region, but for regional Victoria," she said.

"Building this second river crossing is going to massively improve the connections between Victoria and New South Wales, as it's been a real choke point."

Shire of Campaspe councillor-elect and Echuca business owner, Paul Jarman, said the majority of Echuca Moama locals were "bloody thrilled it's actually happening".

It is early morning, construction of the Campaspe Bridge is in the foreground and background. — As well as a bridge over the Murray River, the project includes a new bridge over the Campaspe River. (ABC Central Victoria: Erin Delahunty)

"This project has basically corresponded with my entire life — that's how long it's been going on. But now, it's absolutely amazing to see the bridges rising up over the rivers,"

he said.

"Given what the community has had to deal with when it comes to this project, the overwhelming sentiment is that it's great it's happening and it seems to be moving at a cracking pace."

Loss of parkland 'the price we have to pay'

Mr Jarman said the loss of parkland and public space in Echuca's Victoria Park was regrettable.

"But it's the price we have to pay,"

he said.

Nationals leader and Member for Murray Plains, Peter Walsh, said the residents of the twin towns were eagerly awaiting the completion of the project because of the traffic problems caused by works.