Heralded as a “game-changer” for the local community, the $220 million upgrade of Epping Bridge is now another step closer with critical early work for the project officially beginning.
It has long been a pinch point for commuters, but with the first sod now turned work is finally set to begin on widening Epping Bridge to help ease congestion.
In order to widen the bridge, a chiller unit attached to the northern end of the Sydney Metro South Service Building on High Street will need to be relocated to the southern end.
The chiller unit provides spot cooling of the Epping Station Sydney Metro platforms and the relocation work will be completed under a separate contract before the Epping Bridge Project main work begins.
Member for Parramatta Andrew Charlton said the major upgrade to the bridge will improve traffic conditions in the local community.
“This will be a game-changer for locals, from Epping right down to Carlingford,” Charlton said.
“Thanks to this funding, Epping Bridge will no longer be a bottleneck, easing traffic along Carlingford Road and beyond.”
Work is also progressing on development of the wider project’s concept design, which will go on public display later this year for the community to provide feedback.
The proposed new bridge will allow for an additional westbound lane and right turn lane southbound onto Blaxland Road, and a raised central median strip separating eastbound and westbound lanes on the bridge to improve traffic flow and safety.
There will also be widening to the eastbound and westbound lanes as well as a new pedestrian and bicycle shared path. New safety screens will be installed on the bridge.
The NSW Government said the works will complement road and intersection upgrades completed by Transport for NSW in 2018 to alleviate traffic congestion in the Epping town centre.
Member for Bennelong Jerome Laxale welcomed the commencement of early works on the project.
“The long and complex journey towards an upgraded Epping Bridge starts today, and it is a significant day for locals who have been calling for this upgrade for decades,” he added.
“A wider Epping bridge will improve pedestrian and traffic conditions and help the town centre manage its expected growth.
“It’s great to see the Australian and NSW Governments working together to deliver on this much-needed project.”
The project’s early works will take approximately nine months to complete.
Ellie Busby is a news reporter for Western Sydney Publishing Group. A graduate of the University of Hertfordshire and Western Sydney University, she is a journalism Major. Ellie has worked with Universal Media, The Cova Project and for a range of other organisations. In 2024, Ellie was named Young Writer of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards.