Millicent Spencer
Construction is under way on a 75-metre-long bridge over Plenty Road in Mernda to improve safety for drivers.
The works come as part of the Bridge Inn Road upgrade which aims to improve traffic flow and travel times for drivers.
The new bridge will have four lanes, which will provide an additional lane for traffic in each direction, and a shared use path on its southern side for cyclists and walkers.
Most of the works will be completed behind barriers to minimise disruptions to drivers and the existing bridge will remain open to traffic until the new bridge is finished in late 2023.
Yan Yean MP Lauren Kathage said the upgrade will ensure the 17,000 drivers who rely on the road every day get home sooner and safer.
“Bridge Inn Road is a critical link for our community and this upgrade will boost capacity and slash congestion, while also improving access to the Mernda Railway Station and new Mernda Town Centre,” she said.
The existing bridge, which is located to the north of the structure, will be retained and upgraded to serve as a dedicated walking and cycling path.
Major Road Projects Victoria program director Adrian Furner said construction activity has increased in the area.
“Activity along Bridge Inn Road and local roads has increased with the start of works to widen Bridge Inn Road, building the new bridge over Plenty River and retaining walls between Towerhill Avenue and Vantage Point Boulevard,” he said.
The Bridge Inn Road upgrade is part of the $3 billion Suburban Roads Upgrade which is jointly funded by the Australian and Victorian governments. The upgrade is expected to be complete in 2025.
