The long-awaited western access road into Bridport is one step closer to fruition after the Coalition announced it would provide almost $2 million towards the project should the government be returned at the upcoming federal election.
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The funding would finally bring the project within reach for Dorset Council, who would split the bill with the state government for the remaining $2 million required to complete the project.
Dorset mayor Greg Howard said council was “really pleased” with the announcement.
“The suggestion for the road has been there for decades and since this current council came into power we've had it on the top of our list of infrastructure projects, so to get the promise of federal funding is obviously very pleasing,” Cr Howard said.
“It was a very sound proposal and it makes good sense from an economic development point of view in that it opens up the western side of Bridport for further subdivision and will therefore offer affordable building blocks for young families.”
Designs for the road have already been completed, leaving final negotiations with landowners affected by the new infrastructure as the only other hurdle in beginning the project.
Cr Howard expected that as well as removing heavy traffic from the main street, the 4.6km infrastructure would make the popular seaside town more accessible to visitors and commuters.
“It probably opens up Bridport to being a genuine commuter town to Launceston because you could travel comfortably within the speed limit in 45 minutes.
“It probably takes another 10 minutes on top of that by the time you wind your way through the 50kmh (zones) so it'd save you quite a lot off the trip.”
Cr Howard paid tribute to Bass Liberal MHR Andrew Nikolic for his role in securing the funding.
“We really appreciate the amount of effort he's put into this, he's given it his unqualified support.
“He's probably got us more funding than we've had in the last decade in his nearly three years in power and the funding has been for the right projects.”
Labor has not announced whether it would fund the infrastructure.