Ms THEOPHANOUS (Northcote): I rise to speak about a matter entirely unrelated to the state budget but one which has equal importance to residents in the electorate of Northcote. I rise to celebrate the second anniversary of the mighty upgrade to the Chandler Highway bridge. This bridge has quite literally changed the way our community moves around. More than 44 000 drivers each day no longer have to crowd into a one-lane-each-way bottleneck. I have many memories of sitting in the car, frustrated, crawling along that tiny bridge at a snail’s pace. Now it is truly something to behold, a feat of engineering, six brand new lanes crossing over the Yarra River, the heritage bridge restored to its former glory and converted into a footbridge for cyclists and pedestrians, safer cycling and walking paths connecting Alphington to the Main Yarra Trail, including a new ramp to replace 70 steps from the trail to the Yarra Boulevard, new traffic lights at the Yarra Boulevard and Chandler Highway intersection, beautiful landscaping and a 60-metre-long mural painted by local and Wurundjeri artists. This project has futureproofed our road network and improved safety for families. Cars are spending less time in traffic. Cyclists can ride safely on dedicated routes. Trucks are not idling on the tiny bridge. I cannot believe it has already been two years since this Labor government delivered this phenomenal upgrade for our suburbs. It is truly a testament to what we can achieve when we invest in infrastructure.
