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From (l-r) Grafton Chamber of Commerce President – Phil Belletty, Ron Bell (Grafton Chamber member and member of original Grafton Bridge Sub-Committee), Clarence Valley Council Mayor – Cr Richie Williamson, Grafton Chamber of Commerce Vice President – Des Harvey (also member of original Grafton Bridge Sub-Committee), Chris Gulaptis, Richard Petaccia – Fulton Hogan NSW Operations Manager & Project Director & Jim Campbell – RMS Principal Manager. Image: Jude Myers

New Grafton Bridge tender awarded

From (l-r) Grafton Chamber of Commerce President - Phil Belletty, Ron Bell (Grafton Chamber member and member of original Grafton Bridge Sub-Committee), Clarence Valley Council Mayor - Cr Richie Williamson, Grafton Chamber of Commerce Vice President - Des Harvey (also member of original Grafton Bridge Sub-Committee), Chris Gulaptis, Richard Petaccia - Fulton Hogan NSW Operations Manager & Project Director & Jim Campbell - RMS Principal Manager. Image: Jude Myers
From (l-r) Grafton Chamber of Commerce President – Phil Belletty, Ron Bell (Grafton Chamber member and member of original Grafton Bridge Sub-Committee), Clarence Valley Council Mayor – Cr Richie Williamson, Grafton Chamber of Commerce Vice President – Des Harvey (also member of original Grafton Bridge Sub-Committee), Chris Gulaptis, Richard Petaccia – Fulton Hogan NSW Operations Manager & Project Director & Jim Campbell – RMS Principal Manager. Image: Jude Myers
  Minister for Roads Duncan Gay and Member for Clarence Chris Gulaptis last Friday announced Fulton Hogan had been selected as the preferred tenderer to design and build the additional crossing of the Clarence River at Grafton. Mr Gay said the new 525 metre long bridge will improve traffic flow with two lanes, pedestrian and cycle facilities and will improve connectivity between Grafton and South Grafton. “This is a fantastic day for the people of Grafton, the awarding of the tender demonstrates that the NSW Government is well on the path to delivering this vital new infrastructure,” Mr Gay said. “The new bridge will ease congestion for the expected 20,200 daily light vehicle users and 1,600 heavy vehicles. This great bridge will be a vital asset in peak times when people are travelling to and from work, running errands or picking up their children from school. Mr Gulaptis said work had already started on improving the local road network and construction of the new bridge is expected to start by the end of this year. “In the 84 years since the original bridge was built, traffic in and around Grafton has increased as more people have moved into the area, Mr Gulaptis said. “The Grafton community and surrounds can look forward to the bridge opening to traffic in 2019.” Roads and Maritime will enter into an early work agreement with Fulton Hogan to prepare the construction and environmental management plans and the design of the new bridge, while it finalises the contract arrangements.