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Shovels are about to hit the ground on the new $500 million Richmond Bridge Project Stage 1, with a construction contract signed for two new roundabouts on The Driftway – the first stage of the project.
Transport for NSW awarded a major construction contract to BMD Constructions to deliver these improvements. Stage 1 construction will begin in mid-2025 and is expected to be completed in late 2026.
The planned new Richmond Bridge project is a joint $500 million commitment by the Minns and Albanese Labor governments.
The new roundabouts at intersections on The Driftway at Blacktown Road and Londonderry Road will link in with a wider strategy to improve flood resilience while providing better access to the new bridge over the Hawkesbury River at North Richmond.
The new roundabout at Londonderry Road will have an extra southbound lane to improve traffic flow in emergency evacuations.
While at Blacktown Road, improvements will include a new bridge across Rickabys Creek.
This major upgrade work comes after TfNSW completed early work last year to relocate utilities, including drainage.
While major construction on Stage 1 begins, TfNSW is continuing to consider community feedback received earlier this year for Stage 2, including the new bridge. They NSW state roads department expects to release a Submissions Report detailing that feedback later this year.
Stage 2 will see:
- a new four lane bridge over the Hawkesbury River
- widening Bells Line of Road through North Richmond
- building a new bypass between the Kurrajong Road / Old Kurrajong Road intersection and the Castlereagh Road / Inalls Lane / Southee Road intersection
- new connections for pedestrians and bicycle users, including from Richmond and North Richmond.
- intersection upgrade at Grose Vale Road and widening on Bells Line of Road
- building the Southee Road bypass, including noise mitigations and landscaping
- new traffic light intersection at Londonderry Road and the new Southee Road bypass (delivery subject to further funding)
- shoulder widening along The Driftway (delivery subject to further funding).
Macquarie MP Susan Templeman says, “It’s great to see this much awaited project getting under way. Getting to this stage has been a journey where government has worked closely with the community to ensure best outcomes.
“Building these roundabouts is essential to supporting the New Richmond Bridge with roads that can manage growing traffic demands and support flood response. I am delighted that final planning for the bridge is also gearing up for construction starting next year."
The NSW Minister for Roads Jenny Aitchison said: “The Minns Labor Government is building better communities across North Western Sydney, bringing these important projects, jointly funded with the Federal Albanese Government, into construction phase.
“For too long the communities of the north west have not had the investment needed to fund and deliver the improvements our growing communities need.
“These first stages of the Richmond Bridge project on The Driftway will improve flood resilience and evacuation routes.
“A new local bridge over Rickabys Creek will better handle traffic capacity and be able to withstand a 1 in 20 year flood event.”
And NSW Acting Minister for Western Sydney Courtney Houssos said, “This is a key example of the Minns Labor Government working with the Albanese Labor Government to deliver essential improvements to the road network in Western Sydney.
“This investment will provide improved and safer traffic flow across the area, something local residents have been calling for a long time.”
For more information, visit here, or go to this link: https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/projects/current-projects/new-richmond-bridge-stage-1
