Victoria Bridge is the oldest existing crossing of the Hawkesbury-Nepean River.
It was built in 1867 and crosses the Nepean River as part of the Great Western Highway at Penrith.
Victoria Bridge carries average daily traffic of 25,000 vehicles per day (2009).

Feasibility study into a shared pedestrian/cyclist pathway

In November 2010, Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) completed a structural feasibility study into attaching a shared pedestrian/cyclist pathway onto the southern side of Victoria Bridge.

A report which summarises this complex engineering study has been finalised and is available from the project documents page.

In summary, the study considered the feasibility of two options involving "clip-on" cantilevered structures attached to the side of the existing bridge:

• A straight path that requires a structure cantilevered around seven metres off the existing bridge.
• A path that curves around the bridge's sandstone pylons.

The study indicated that both clip-on structures for a shared path are feasible. However, the options would be very costly due to the long and meticulous nature of the work.

Current status

A stand alone structure is estimated to be cheaper and faster to build. It also eliminates the impacts on the heritage bridge.

The proposed stand alone bridge is now referred to as the Nepean River Green Bridge.

Information about the Nepean River Green Bridge can be found on the Nepean River Green Bridge project webpage.

Further information

For further information about the Victoria Bridge feasibility study, please email cc_sydney_region@rta.nsw.gov.au.