Council meeting about second Manilla bridge route options

Concerns were raised about a lack of consultation when the $8.7-million low-level bridge was announced.

However, council's regional services director Peter Resch said while the southern side of the route extend along Arthur Street, which is where the bridge will cross the river, the design was still "very much in the early stages".

"We haven't actually locked in an exact route on the northern end," he said.

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"We'll be looking at options of Rowan Street, Charles Street, Barraba Street and North Street. All of the options we are looking at are in existing road reserves.

"We'll always be mindful of the impacts any new infrastructure has on residents, and we'll work with them to see if we can mitigate those impacts as best we can."

Mr Resch said the overall message from council would to be around safety.

"The existing bridge is five metres wide, the new bridge will be nine," Mr Resch said.

"There's been nine accidents on the existing bridge, and three of those have been serious.

Some raised concerns the new bridge would take business away from the town, with truck drivers and travellers bypassing the CBD.

Royal Hotel owner Thomas Cocking said his main concern was the lack of information.

"It was sprung on us without any warning," he said.

"It's mostly that everybody along the line of the bridge hasn't been consulted. We got a letter in the mail six weeks after it was published in the media and nothing since."

The meeting will be at Manilla Small Town Hall at 6pm.

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