Northern Sydney commuters will soon save 40 minutes per week commute time, with designs unveiled today for the new seven-lane Epping Bridge.
The new bridge will save 60,000 drivers up to eight minutes per day in the afternoon peak, according to Transport for NSW modelling.
That could mean 40 extra minutes a week with family or friends rather than stuck in traffic at the notorious bottleneck.
The Albanese and Minns Labor Governments are each contributing $110 million to the $220 million project which will replace the 124-year-old current structure.
The designs reveal two additional lanes along with improvements to surrounding roads, including traffic signal and intersection upgrades.
A walking and bicycle shared path will span the southern side of the bridge to improve access for pedestrians and bike riders to Epping Town Centre, Epping Station and the bus interchange.
The additional lanes - which include a new westbound traffic lane and an extra right-turn lane southbound onto Blaxland Road - will add critical capacity as the road crosses the train tracks.
The traffic pressure on fast-growing Epping is only expected to increase, with 25 per cent residential population growth expected over the coming two decades.
Epping Road is a major route linking Northern Sydney to the lower North Shore and Sydney CBD and is a critical access road to the commercial, industrial and university areas of North Ryde and Macquarie Park.
As Transport for NSW seeks vital community feedback on the concept design, construction companies can also submit expressions of interest to further develop designs, and to build the new bridge.
Early preparation work has already begun on the Epping Bridge Project, with construction expected to start next year.
The community is invited to provide feedback on both the Concept Designs and Review of Environmental Factors (REF) by Monday, 7 October.
To view or download the REF, visit transport.nsw.gov.au/epping-bridge.
