Lithgow City Council has proposed alterations to Wallerawang Rail Overbridge to respond to issues raised by residents including improving pedestrian access and vision for motorists.
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The current concrete structure was installed over the railway in late 2015 replacing the notoriously narrow ‘Black Bridge’ built in the 1920s.
Wallerawang residents say the structure has brought its own issues.
“Our biggest concern is the line of sight over the bridge when you are going down to Main Street, you can’t see who is coming,” Ros Francis, the secretary of the Wallerawang Lidsdale Progress Association, said.
“You really have to stop and lift your head above the balustrade.”
Councillor and police sergeant Darryl Goodwin said he was concerned about pedestrian access to the bridge, as the footpath on the southern side of the bridge does not link to paths on Pipers Flat Road or Tweedie Street.
“The footpath just leads people onto the road itself,” he said.
Cr Goodwin said he only knew of minor incidents occurring on the bridge.
“I’ve seen heaps of people nearly have accidents, I’ve seen pedestrians walking out in front vehicles, it’s only a matter of time someone is seriously injured or killed.”
Ms Francis and Cr Goodwin were pleased with council’s proposed changes, including revised line markings on the Main Street approach to the bridge, a traffic island, as well as 200 metres of footpath on Tweedie Street and Pipers Flat Road linking to the bridge.
Council staff said it would be “impossible” to modify or remove the concrete traffic barriers as they are required to withstand the impact of a large truck, preventing vehicles falling on the railway.
“I think it’s the best outcome that can be made at this particular time,” Cr Goodwin said.
Cr Joe Smith, who has persistently pursued changes to the bridge, congratulated council staff at the council meeting on Monday night.
“It’s been a long hard road,” he said.
“There are parts [of the report] that I am not super happy with but it’s a lot better than what we’ve got now.
“Once again congratulations to the council engineering staff and management for putting up with me harping at them for the last two years.”
Works manager Jonathon Edgecombe said that if councillors voted to include the project, estimated to cost $157,597, in the 2018/19 Operational Plan, his team would start working on it on July 1.
“The new bridge is a substantial improvement [to Black Bridge], we’re just trying to improve the sight distance and pedestrian access for the community to see the benefits of the new structure.”
Council announced the installation of a pedestrian refuge on Barton Street near the bridge in May last year.
