Designs for a new bridge over the Hawkesbury River between Richmond and North Richmond north-west of Sydney have been revealed.
The new bridge will be built roughly 10 metres higher than the existing Richmond Bridge. If the existing structure was built this high, it would have remained open in all flooding events in the area since 2020.
Transport for NSW says, “the new, higher bridge [will be] built to remain open in a one in 20-year flood event”.
The Review of Environmental Factors (REF) and project designs for Stage 2 of the New Richmond Bridge project are now in display, with feedback welcomed until February 21st, 2025.
While the REF is out, Transport will be seeking expressions of interest to complete detailed design and construction of the new bridge.
$500 million has been allocated to the project and will be jointly funded by the NSW and federal governments.
Construction is expected to be complete in 2026.
Other road upgrades to The Driftway in the region are also progressing, with tenders for Stage 1 of two intersection upgrades invited.
The intersection upgrade at Londonderry Road will include a new roundabout and additional lane capacity as part of the Hawksbury Nepean Valley Flood Evacuation route to help traffic movements during flood events.
At the intersection of Blacktown Road, the work will include the realignment of The Driftway from Reynolds Road to Blacktown Road with a new bridge over Rickabys Creek and a new roundabout at The Driftway and Blacktown Road intersection.
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