Federal Member for Eden-Monaro Dr Mike Kelly on December 12 met with Narooma locals, who are hoping to get some safety improvements at the Narooma Bridge.

The meeting was also a chance for Eurobodalla Shire councillor Phil Constable to raise his concept for a new outer bypass that would cut through State forests from Bodalla to Dignam’s Creek.

Narooma resident Peter Bernard called for the meeting with Mr Kelly, hoping to get some action to improve the access road to the Narooma Bridge.

Mr Bernard was concerned about safety on the bridge and heavy vehicles swinging out across both lanes as they approached the bridge from the north.

He said he was not happy that State Member and Transport Minister Andrew Constance had announced funding for bridge improvements at Batemans Bay and Nelligen, and yet there had been no mention of making Narooma Bridge safer.

“Naturally many of us in this neck of the woods are a very disappointed with the State Government and council failure to recognize the need for a new crossing,” Mr Bernard said.

The Narooma Bridge was the first bridge constructed between 1929 and 1931 by the Main Roads department, as part of its efforts to develop the Princes Highway, he said.

“It is the only bridge I know of with a skewed “T-intersection and cliff face at one end. It is totally inadequate for modern day traffic in width and height,” Mr Bernard said. “There is lots of evidence  of numerous side swipes, direct collisions and extensive damage.

“For many it is a frightening experience when confronted with heavy vehicles crossing onto the wrong side of the road.”

Clr Constable said acknowleged the safety issues with the current Narooma Bridge design and approaches, but said building a new Narooma fly-over style bridge could cost as much as $150 million.

So in his mind, a far better long-term option would be an outer bypass that would take traffic west of Narooma using existing forest trails to build a new highway section.

According to his calculations of $10 million per kilometre, this outer bypass could cost as little as $300 million and would half the current time and distance of 62km between Bodalla and Dignam’s Creek.

“There needs to be some 30-year planning done and how this proposal would fit in with the current plan from the South East Corridor plan down to the Victorian border remains to be seen,” Clr Constable said.

He said an outer bypass that would facilitate the movement of heavy vehicles and those travelling interstate was a much better option than the plan for the inner bypass that would cut Narooma in two.

Clr Constable plans to continue to seek a statement of commitment from his fellow councillors for either his outer bypass solution as well as the South East corridor. 

Federal Member Dr Kelly meanwhile listened with interest to both issues and said the Federal Government would lend a hand where it could, but that both of these potential projects would be the responsibility of the State Government.