Sunbury Road motorists can now enjoy a safer and more efficient journey over Jacksons Creek, thanks to the early opening of a new 2 lane road bridge which has welcomed traffic months ahead of schedule.
Crews worked thousands of hours over the past 13 months to build the 57-metre-long new bridge, undertaking critical piling and bridge installation works before pouring 790m3 of structural concrete to form the bridge deck.
The new bridge improves safety and reliability along Sunbury Road by removing a known pinch point, improving safety and delivering a smoother journey for the 25,000 vehicles that will travel over this critical piece of infrastructure every day.
Previously motorists travelling in either direction would merge from 2 lanes into 1. The new road bridge means road users travelling to Goonawarra and emerging nearby communities, will benefit from a safer and more direct route.
Safety has also been improved for road users and pedestrians using the new Jacksons Creek crossing, which now features improved barriers and pedestrian and cycling paths. New walking and cycling paths will open later this year for safer access to nearby shops, schools and open spaces along the Jacksons Creek.
The Sunbury Road Upgrade project has gone to great lengths to minimise it's construction footprint on the local environment and to protect the local wildlife. The bridge design has the central piers built off-centre on the bank of the creek rather than placing piers in the waterway.
The new elegant and sleek road bridge is one of the biggest infrastructure projects to be delivered in the Sunbury region, following the completion of the road-under-rail design Gap Road Level Crossing Removal.
Some minor works will be undertaken until the end of the year to complete the bridge upgrade, meaning the bridge will initially open to 1 lane of traffic in each direction - allowing crews to complete the anti-carbonation coating of all concrete elements, installation of lighting along with other minor finishing works such as landscaping.
It will also allow a team of crews to complete resurfacing of the existing bridge and upgrade some safety barriers to accommodate 2 lanes of westbound traffic.
The Sunbury Road Upgrade is jointly funded by the Victorian and Australian governments.