Bridge plan takes shape

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New animations of the Nepean River Green Bridge have been launched on the Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) website showing a “more in situ perspective” of the bridge in its surroundings.

Penrith MP Stuart Ayres said that the animations, which cost thousands of dollars, were developed to show residents a more accurate perception of what the bridge will look like.

“The animation more accurately shows how the bridge fits in the layout of the land, what cannot be seen on the print outs is the colour of the bridge but this is much more accurate,” he said.

“You can see that the truss design complements the design of the Victoria Bridge in particular the rail bridge.”

Of particular note is the revised designs for the eastern land of the Green Bridge on the Log Cabin site, which creates two potential development sites by bisecting the block.

“A trapezoidal shape has been deliberately chosen to form a path that is in the desired line to connect with the rest of the path network, but also an area that I envisage would become the forecourt to whatever development occurs on the former Log Cabin site,” Mr Ayres said.

He said the smaller, southern site would be suitable for a coffee shop or restaurant business whilst the northern site in between the two bridges would be suitable for a larger development.

“We have shown the owner of the site ideas of what could be built on the site… but whether he chooses to develop or sell the site is his decision,” Mr Ayres said.

On the western side of the Green Bridge, Mr Ayres said that as earmarked by Penrith Council, a natural amphitheatre is formed.

“I am sure there will be lots of creative options, and I don’t see why something like a floating stage couldn’t be used to utilise the space,” he said.

“Emu Hall is also on the market and I imagine that would have a future commercial use with the bridge opening up the area.”

The animations are the final piece of the concept design for the bridge, with the next stage to be the issuing of tenders for the final design.

“The final design is the engineering phase, although much of that work has been done to ensure that these design actually do work,” Mr Ayres said.

“Depending on the tender process, we could see construction start in November and possibly take 12 months.”


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