The infrastructure and community facilities are part of a Voluntary Planning Agreement between the developer of Redbank, the North Richmond Joint Venture (NRJV) and Hawkesbury City Council.

Redbank’s Project Manager, Andrew Flaherty, said NRJV is excited to be providing the community with the new Grose Valley Bridge.

When complete, the bridge will ease local traffic congestion by creating an alternative route across the river and will reduce travel times for commuters and emergency vehicles travelling to and from Penrith and Springwood.

“With road reserves set aside since 1890, this is a crossing 124 years in the making,” Mr Flaherty said.

“NRJV is pleased to be funding construction of the bridge, as part of our ongoing commitment to the community, as it will provide locals and visitors alike with real solutions to the area’s traffic issues, in and around North Richmond.

“We have already identified three potential sites for the bridge, which will have a single vehicle travel lane with shoulders in each direction and a 2.5m wide dual pedestrian/cycle way.

“The bridge is targeting increasing the every-day river crossing capacity east to west, with a crossing that is significantly higher than other existing bridges in the area.

“The NRJV will also be upgrading surrounding roads across the Hawkesbury region, including our $2.5 million in funding for improvements at the congestion hot spot at the intersection of Grose Vale Road and the Bells Line of Road at North Richmond.”

Mr Flaherty said the other key components of NRJV’s community infrastructure and facilities package included a new community facility; a new childcare facility; enhancements to Peel Park; 36 hectares of open space parkland which is to be completed and then maintained for five years; $1.2 million in funding for new footpaths and 15 new bus shelters.

NRJV will hold a community meeting from 5pm-9pm on October 1 at the North Richmond Community Centre to seek feedback on the bridge initiative.