en.Wedoany.com Reported - Two Blue Mountain road bridges on the Great Western Highway in New South Wales, Australia, are about to undergo safety upgrades. The project involves installing safety nets on the Private Ronald Field Bridge in Hazelbrook and the AW Bewley Bridge in Warrimoo to protect pedestrians and motorists, ensuring compliance with current safety standards.
Damien Pfeiffer, Executive Director of Partnerships and Integration at Transport for NSW, explained the multiple benefits of installing the safety nets: preventing people from falling or jumping off the road bridges, stopping objects from being thrown from the bridges, and enhancing safety for people both on and below the bridges. Damien Pfeiffer stated: "Fortunately, incidents of people or objects falling or being thrown from the bridges are rare, but there is still the potential for serious injury. These safety upgrades will go a long way in reducing these risks." He also noted: "Safety nets serve as an effective deterrent for anyone considering throwing objects from a bridge." Regarding the potential visual impact of the nets, Damien Pfeiffer responded: "While we acknowledge that installing safety nets will have a visual impact, the priority of this project must be to enhance safety for road users and pedestrians."
The safety net installation on Private Ronald Field Bridge is expected to begin on April 28 and, weather permitting, will take approximately three weeks to complete. Work will be carried out on weeknights from 8:00 PM to 5:00 AM, with crews operating on the bridge and along the Great Western Highway between Clear View Parade and Railway Parade.
Traffic management measures will be implemented during construction, including single lane closures, a 40 km/h speed limit, and footpath closures. Cyclists and pedestrians will need to follow detour routes. Outside of work hours, the speed limit will revert to the posted speed. Transport authorities advise drivers to drive to conditions, follow signs and traffic control instructions, and allow extra travel time.
The safety net installation on AW Bewley Bridge is planned for mid-June to early July, with crews working along the Great Western Highway between the service road and the Warrimoo Station pedestrian bridge. Once the safety upgrades on both road bridges are completed, they will effectively reduce safety risks on this section of the road.
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