The NSW Government says it will invest more than $300 million in new bridges over the Clyde River at Batemans Bay and Nelligen.
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The Government on Friday, June 16, said the infrastructure funding would open the Clyde River to tourism and ease road congestion around Batemans Bay.
Roads, Maritime and Freight Minister Melinda Pavey and Bega MP and Infrastructure Minister Andrew Constance said the government had set aside more than $300 million for the projects.
Mrs Pavey said $15.9 million in this year's budget would be used to plan, investigate and design the best options to replace both bridges.
Mr Constance said it was the “biggest infrastructure announcement for the region.”
“These bridges form part of important corridors which motorists use to access the beautiful South Coast,” Ms Pavey said.
“Traffic along these roads is only going to get busier, especially between Sydney, Canberra and the South Coast.
“We could either keep throwing more and more money at maintaining bridges built for the 1950s and 60s, or we could set up the infrastructure for the 21st Century and beyond.
The government said the new Batemans Bay bridge would improve the efficiency of freight movements across the river, fix structural issues, reduce maintenance costs, and reduce economic and social impacts resulting from road closures.