Residents to march against Iron Cove bridge duplication

by Michael Gormly

Inner west residents will protest the planned duplication of the Iron Cove Bridge on Victoria Road by marching across it later this month.

The bridge duplication is part of a state plan to ease traffic congestion by removing parking along Victoria Road and reducing the number of bus stops.

This is the second rally organised by Victoria Road Community Committee (VRCC) – 1500 people attended the first and more are expected this time.

A cost-benefit analysis showed the bridge project would return only 94c in the dollar spent. By contrast, extending the light rail system would return a positive cost-benefit of $2.24 for every dollar spent.

“The Victoria Road Upgrade has been proved again and again to be a flawed project,” said a VRCC spokesman.

“On the Government’s own cost benefit analysis it fails; the costs will exceed the benefits. It will destroy parkland, increase noise and pollution, destroy businesses in Victoria Road, and lead to more accidents and road trauma.”

“There is a growing anger in the community against this project and the failure of both the Member for Balmain, Verity Firth and the Member for Drummoyne, Angela D’Amore to stand up and fight for the interests of their communities,” said the VRCC spokesman.

The VRCC says the government has grossly exaggerated the number of bus commuters who would benefit from the project.

“The Minister for Roads, Michael Daley and the former minister Eric Roozendaal both claimed that the Victoria Road upgrade would see an 18-minute reduction in travel times for the 200,000 bus commuters who travel to the city each week.

“It is not 200,000 it is more like 75,000. The VRCC has obtained documents under FOI which reveal that the average daily weekday patronage is approximately 15,000 commuters, not the 40,000 as stated by the Minister.”

The rally on Sunday 29 March will leave King George Park, Rozelle at 10:00am and proceed over the Iron Cove Bridge to Brett Park, Drummoyne. The VRCC has a website at nonewbridge.com.au.