Work on new footbridge to cross the New England Highway near the Church Street roundabout is under way

Maitland MP Robyn Parker said the foundation work marked a milestone in the state government’s $45 million roundabouts project for the city.

“The first stage of the project was completed at High Street near Maitland Hospital earlier this year and upgrade work is now progressing at Church Street, near Maitland railway station,” she said.

“We are working closely with the community in order to deliver this vital infrastructure.

“The NSW government provided $45 million to make it safer and improve traffic flow as traffic volumes in the area increase.”

Work on the new pedestrian foot bridge began last month.

“This work includes demolishing the existing northern ramp and replacing it with a new repositioned pedestrian ramp to allow the east-bound overpass to be built over Church Street,” Ms Parker said.

“Work to rebuild the ramp is expected to take about four months to complete, weather permitting.

“A temporary ramp and footpaths are in place to ensure access to the existing pedestrian bridge.”

Ms Parker said early work had also begun to move electricity utilities, train signals and to realign the existing pedestrian bridge ramp to make way for the eastbound vehicle overpass.

The vehicle overpass is the major part of the project and is designed to ease traffic congestion at the notorious bottleneck.

“Once complete, the overpass will carry two lanes above the Church Street roundabout and across the flood plain area to the north of the highway at the western end of the bridge,” she said.