NSW and Victorian ministers back popular route for new Yarrawonga-Mulwala bridge

NSW and Victorian roads minister have accepted the border crossing should be the so-called green route, to the west of the existing bridge, which takes traffic from Yarrawonga's main street.

Their decision follows Transport for NSW taking formal feedback in winter which resulted in 74 per cent of 285 submissions favouring the green option over the grey route which would align with Yarrawonga's shopping strip Belmore Street.

Green Route Community Group chairman John Lawless has driven dissent to past government backing of the grey route, helping amass 10,000 signatures for a 2014 petition to change support.

"We've been fighting RMS and VicRoads since 2012 but they were told in 2000 they should have the new bridge built by 2020 and they've stuffed us around for 20 years," he said.

"At least now they've listened to the people and common sense has prevailed."

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Mr Lawless said building on the existing bridge alignment would not have met environmental, economic or social requirements, noting there was an Aboriginal burial ground on the Mulwala side.

NSW Roads Minister Sam Farraway said it was "no surprise that the feedback confirms strong support" for the green way given community sentiment.

He recently replaced now Deputy Premier Paul Toole who visited Yarrawonga-Mulwala in June before initiating the survey process.

Member for Albury Justin Clancy said he expected the agreement between Mr Farraway and his Victorian counterpart Ben Carroll would be welcomed by Federation and Moira councils and the Mulwala Progress Association.

"The green route has had widespread community support for some time, now the community has certainty that both state governments also support this alignment and we're excited to see the bridge a significant step closer to becoming a reality," Mr Clancy said.

"This route will cater for growing communities on both sides, and will create a more accessible crossing of Lake Mulwala for the local community and freight operators."

The closure of the weir bridge in spring means only one crossing now exists between Yarrawonga and Mulwala with traffic banking up even greater than normal over the summer holiday season.

When exactly the new bridge will be built is a mystery with a funding deal to be finalised.

The federal government has shown interest in covering 40 per cent of the cost.

In a summary of the recent feedback, Transport for NSW states "timeframes for design and construction of the new bridge are yet to be determined, and depend on future budget allocation".

"This is expected to occur within the next five to 10 years, as per the Murray River crossings investment prioritisation assessment."

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