Traffic in Moama’s Meninya St has dropped by more than 3000 vehicles per day, while traffic in Echuca’s port area has diminished by more than 1700 vehicles per day, as a result of the new Dhungala Bridge.
The new bridge has transformed travel between the border towns, by providing a second crossing over the Murray River after 140 years of connection by a single bridge.
Major Road Projects Victoria has revealed that since the $323.7 million bridge opened in April, traffic on Meninya St has decreased by almost 25 per cent while traffic in Echuca’s port area has reduced by 13 per cent.
Victorian Transport Infrastructure Minister Jacinta Allan said the bridge has slashed travel times between the two border towns during peak hour.
“Motorists are already benefiting from travel time savings on the new bridge, and we’re seeing more than 5000 vehicles each day using the new bridge and increasing capacity on the Murray River bridge,” Ms Allan said.
As to whether the reduction in traffic has negatively impacted businesses located on Meninya St, a spokesperson for Murray River Council said council hasn’t received any specific feedback about traffic movements and the reduction in cars.
“One of the main goals of the Meninya St Precinct Project is to reshape Meninya St from being a transport thoroughfare into a pedestrian and cyclist-oriented environment,” the spokesperson said.
A spokesperson for MRPV said the new river crossing had taken traffic out of the town centres of Echuca and Moama, giving local roads back to locals.
“Drivers taking the new river crossing during the evening peak instead of the pre-existing Murray River bridge are saving up to four minutes in both directions, and drivers taking the new river crossing during the morning peak are saving up to three and a half minutes in both directions,” he said.
Traffic on the pre-existing Murray River bridge has also been reduced by 25 per cent or more than 5000 vehicles per day; this includes truck numbers being nearly halved, by more than 1400 per day.
State Member for Northern Victoria Mark Gepp said the new river crossing was not only better connecting locals, but it would also provide an essential link for the more than one million people who visited Echuca every year.
“We’re already seeing a significant reduction in traffic on the Murray River bridge, with motorists opting to use the new bridge to travel between Echuca and Moama,” he said.
The Riverine Herald contacted Campaspe Shire for comment.