MONEY FOR BRIDGES IN LYONS

Northern Midlands Mayor David Downie and Lyons MHR Eric Hutchinson cross the Westmoor Bridge, on the Powranna Road, which will have a major upgrade with the help of Federal Government Bridges Renewal funding

FEDERAL Lyons MP Eric Hutchinson welcomed the funding announcement today of more than $8.5 million for the replacement of two bridges in his Lyons electorate.

“This will make possible the much-needed upgrade to local bridges as part of the Federal Government’s $300 million Bridges Renewal Program,’’ Mr Hutchinson said.

He met with Northern Midlands Mayor David Downie, at Westmoor Bridge, on Powranna Road, near Cressy, this morning to view the bridge which is one of the two to be replaced.

Councillor Downie said he was pleased that the council had secured $922,000 in federal funding towards the new bridge across the Macquarie River on the Powranna Road.

The council will contribute the remainder of the money for the $1.8 million project.

Councillor Downie said that the replacement bridge had been needed for some time on what has become a main connector road between the Midland Highway and the rapidly developing agriculture industry zone at the other end of the road near Cressy.

“This area has attracted a great deal of investment in recent years which has led to much more traffic on Powranna Road so that the bridge replacement was necessary,’’ Mr Downie said.

Mr Hutchinson said that the upgraded road infrastructure would help industries like award-winning Tasmanian Quality Meats, Burlington Berries, Petuna Seafoods hatchery and a new seed farm, in Burlington Road as well as operations like the Roberts saleyards, near the Midland Highway.

A further $3.3 million funding announced today from the Federal Government’s Bridges Renewal Program for the Lyons electorate will go towards a $6.7 million State Government project to replace two under-strength bridges on the Esk Main Road near Fingal and Avoca.

Mr Hutchinson said that the bridge works on Powranna Road and in the Fingal Valley would improve road access for local traffic and increase efficiency on these important arterial roads.

The Federal Government has committed $114 million nationally under round one of the Bridges Renewal Program with a total commitment of $300 million over five years, starting this financial year.
Lyons MHR Eric Hutchinson