Hunter River Tourle Street Bridge

The Hon. ROBYN PARKER: My question without notice is to the Minister for Roads. Will the Minister explain why $47 million of taxpayers' money will be spent on replacing the two-lane Tourle Street Bridge in Newcastle with another two-lane bridge, when this money would be better spent on constructing a four-lane bridge now and not in 10 years?

The Hon. ERIC ROOZENDAAL: An amount of $16 million has been allocated in 2007-08 to commence construction of the Tourle Street Bridge on Nelson Bay Road at Kooragang Island. The contract was awarded to Daracan Constructions Pty Limited in August, with work commencing on site in October this year. The Tourle Street Bridge was built in 1965. It is being replaced because the concrete deck and supporting steel stringers are showing evidence of fatigue and it is no longer effective to carry out ongoing repairs. The total estimated cost of constructing a new two-lane bridge is $47 million. A two-lane bridge has sufficient capacity for 10 to 15 years based on current growth rates. Following construction of the new bridge, the old bridge will be demolished. The site of the old bridge can be used in the future to construct a second bridge when a four-lane carriageway is required. The Roads and Traffic Authority expects early works to include utility adjustments and work on the bridge substructure, including acquisition of piling tubes and pile driving.