The Beagle
Jan 12, 2018
Dear Beagle Editor,
Your readers might be interested in a letter delivered to the Premier with copies sent to The Minister for Roads, and the NSW State Opposition Leader,
Gladys Berejiklian New South Wales Premier,
Dear Premier
The NSW Government has decided a new bridge will be built over the Clyde River at Batemans Bay, the bridge being part of the Princes Highway.
The proposed new bridge will be only a few metres to the west of the existing opening bridge but not an opening bridge it seems. High enough for the local ferry to pass underneath though.
Some of the reasons identified to justify building a new bridge included openings causing traffic delays and traffic congestion of the Princes Highway as result of the bridge opening to accommodate the local tourist ferry and other craft, from time to time.
Obviously the State Government's RMS would have detailed information about the openings and why they were, or are, necessary.
The bridge openings are not the only reason traffic congestion is occurring on the Princes and Kings Highways at Batemans Bay.
Traffic flows and resultant congestion on the Princes Highway and Kings Highways at Batemans Bay is significantly affected by traffic control lights on the Vesper St which (as part of the Princes Highway performs the role of a town by-pass). The RMS is apparently planning to install more traffic lights on the Princes Highway between North St and the Batemans Bay Cemetery.
Building a new bridge over the Clyde River at Batemans Bay just west of the existing bridge ( Princes Highway) will not change much at all, if anything, as far as traffic flows are concerned because the existing Princes Highway alignment will remain. All traffic will be funnelled into the traffic light bottlenecks that are the main contributor to the road traffic problems.
What is needed is a new Princes Highway route being identified and developed which would be a proper by-pass around Batemans Bay and even Mogo.
Spending taxpayers money on a new bridge over the Clyde river at Batemans Bay running parallel to the existing opening bridge isn't the right solution. More thought needs to be given to the matter.
Solutions need to include long term planning, population growth and economic development, not knee jerk reactions for political opportunism.
Will the Government more thoroughly consider and re-evaluate it's present thinking on the matter before more taxpayers money is allocated and spent on the present new bridge Idea?
Yours Sincerely
Name and address supplied
Question: If not across the Clyde at the location of the present crossing where
would the new bridge and by-pass go?