THE Yarrawonga-Mulwala replacement bridge will be the largest infrastructure project undertaken in the region in the next decade when construction does get underway at some date still to be determined.
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It has been estimated to cost more than $100 million when finally built.
This is serious stuff and if the saga of settling on a preferred route is anything to go by there is no chance of the 2020 deadline being met.
This week the Andrews government - surprise, surprise - went against the preferred route of its predecessors in power, the Coalition, in opting for the grey route, which is essentially a straight swap of the existing traffic bridge across Lake Mulwala.
Passions have run high on both sides of the debate as they often do with bridge locations.
Community opinion has been split down the middle even to the point where the two shires on either side of the lake are divided on their preferred choice.
Corowa Shire has come up trumps with the choice of grey, but there are still plenty of unknowns remaining on this issue before work does start.
When will the route be locked in stone, when will funding be confirmed and will the bridge meet the 2020 deadline are all questions still requiring answers and all with the potential to delay this crucial piece of infrastructure for two growing towns.
What was surprising was the low-key the announcement of such an important decision.
No minister, no fanfare, no nothing.
Mr Andrews’ cabinet was in nearby Wangaratta and Milawa trumpeting its much-anticipated and much-hyped regional statement, which, surprisingly didn't include a mention of the Yarrawonga-Mulwala bridge as one of its big ticket items.
Surely the Roads Minister Luke Donnellan could have travelled across from Wangaratta to Yarrawonga for such an important announcement and explain the reasons for the change of preferred route.
The government has the responsibility of keeping the momentum going on this project.
Yarrawonga-Mulwala residents will be watching closely the respective Victoria and NSW state budgets next year for funding to kick things off.
