Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development, The Hon Warren Truss MP today announced a commitment of $4 million to progress planning for the duplication of the Tourle Street Bridge and Cormorant Road at Kooragang Island.
Australian and New South Wales governments have committed $4 million this financial year towards planning for the $104 million project which was identified as a priority infrastructure requirement in RDA Hunter’s Hunter Economic Infrastructure Plan (HEIP) released in 2014.
A report responding to community feedback on the proposed upgrade has been released this week that relates to design refinements, consultation and construction management as well as additional investigations and mitigation measures that will be carried out in the next stage of the project.
“The Tourle Street Bridge and Cormorant Road corridor is key regional infrastructure that connects the Hunter nationally and internationally. It links Newcastle Airport and RAAF Base Williamtown with the Port of Newcastle and national highway system and it carries around 33,000 vehicles daily.” said RDA Hunter CEO Todd Williams.
“Duplication of the existing infrastructure is imperative for regional economic growth as it improves access to our international gateways, our growing urban areas and the expanding industrial developments on Kooragang Island.
“For this reason it was included in our 2014 Hunter Economic Infrastructure Plan as the number one infrastructure priority for the region.
“RDA Hunter is pleased that this project has been recognised by all levels of government as important for the Hunter’s future and is being progressed in 2015.” continued Mr Williams.
GHD is the contractor for project and is expected to complete the detailed design for the Tourle Street upgrade mid this year.
For more information visit
http://www.minister.infrastructure.gov.au/wt/releases/2015/January/wt002_2015.aspx
http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/projects/hunter/kooragang-tourle-street-cormorant-rd/index.html