Llandilo locals call for change on Eighth Avenue bridge after fatal crash

The death of a 20-year-old woman in a two car crash on a narrow bridge in Sydney’s west has sparked grief and frustration among locals who are calling for changes to the bridge.

Locals have raised concerns about a bridge near Shanes Park. Picture: Nathan Schmidt

The death of a 20-year-old woman in a two car crash on a narrow bridge in Sydney’s west has sparked grief and frustration among locals who are calling for changes to the bridge.

On Wednesday morning emergency services were called to Eighth Ave bridge over South Creek in Shanes Park, following reports of a crash involving a Mazda 3 hatchback and a Genesis station wagon.

Despite the efforts of police and paramedics, the female driver of the Mazda, aged 24, died at the scene.

Following Wednesday’s fatal crash, locals of nearby Llandilo are rallying for the stretch of road to be widened and the speed limit reduced, saying the bridge is far too narrow for the amount of traffic passing through every day.

South Creek, which is below Eighth Ave bridge. Picture: Nathan Schmidt

Many motorists use the bridge as a shortcut to get on the M7 motorway or to enter Mt Druitt from Penrith, while the streets surrounding the bridge have a speed limit of 60, the bridge itself has a maximum speed of 80, which many locals say is too high.

Cranebrook mother Krystle Cassidy, who uses the bridge every day to get to work, says “you have to pray and hold your breath you cross okay.”

“It’s a pinchspot, it’s really tight, we have to slow down to safely pass each other and you just have to hope the person coming the other way does the same,” she said.

Locals have raised concerns about a bridge near Shanes Park in western Sydney after a fatal car crash claimed the life of a 24-year-old woman. Picture: Nathan Schmidt

Ms Cassidy, has since started a petition for an immediate safety review of the bridge and to draw attention to the issue in the hopes it will exact change.

“There’s feedback from a community standpoint that something needs to be done. If you don’t say anything then nothing changes.”

“We all use that bridge to take time off our travel but at what cost?”

Ms Cassidy says once the petition reaches 100 signatures she will present it to the local council.