Clarence MP Chris Gulaptis has announced that the state government has allocated funding to replace the Romiaka Channel Bridge. The funding has been allocated as part of Round Two of Fixing Country Roads, “an initiative which removes freight pinch points in regional NSW,” Mr Gulaptis said in a media release. “Round Two of Fixing Country Roads includes a $50 million investment in the upcoming 2016/17 state budget, and is ‘on top’ of the $43 million commitment in Round One. “A key project includes the replacement of Romiaka Channel Bridge on Yamba Road with a wider concrete bridge. “Without a replacement, the existing bridge would require a 20 tonne load limit, which would generate an additional 20,000 truck movements per year as existing loads are moved to smaller trucks. “Yamba Road provides the only access to and from Yamba.” The estimated cost of replacing the bridge is $3.46million. Meanwhile, the federal government has previously granted $1.731 million to Clarence Valley Council, through its Bridges Renewal Program, to reconstruct the bridge. This grant from the NSW Government matches the federal grant. Clarence Valley Council had not responded to the Independent’s enquiry before going to press. “All Fixing Country Roads funding allocations are determined by an expert Independent Assessment Panel,” Mr Gulaptis’s media release states, “including Local Government NSW, Livestock and Bulk Carriers Association, NSW Farmers, NRMA. “Projects not selected by the Panel in this round may be able to access funding in future rounds. “Successful councils will be formally notified.”