BULIDING IT UP: Coalition promises $50 million for second high-level bridge

Premier Mike Baird said the plan would help Dubbo to grow as former mayor and local MP Les Ford envisioned.

"This is a terrific day for the people and businesses of Dubbo who need a new structure to better connect to the Newell Highway, particularly during floods," he said.

"(Dubbo MP) Troy Grant and I have a $6 billion plan to rebuild regional NSW with new critical transport and freight infrastructure to create jobs and grow regional economies."

Mr Grant said during a one-in-20-year flood, the LH Ford Bridge became the only high-level link between the Dubbo CBD and the Newell Highway.

"When the Macquarie breaks its banks and flows over the Emile Serisier Bridge on the Newell, traffic from the highway is diverted over the LH Ford Bridge creating a huge bottleneck in and out of Dubbo," he said. "That's why we need to duplicate the bridge and improve road approaches from the Newell - the community needs four lanes in and out of Dubbo, not just two.

"For too long this bridge has caused major congestion problems for motorists, truckies and emergency services - and I'm pleased the LH Ford Bridge and other important infrastructure across the state will be upgraded under our Rebuilding NSW Plan.''

Minister for Roads and Freight Duncan Gay said improving road freight productivity in regional NSW would help generate jobs and revenue in agriculture and mining.

"The Newell Highway is the economic backbone for interstate and regional freight transport - helping to service key regional centres like Dubbo," Mr Gay said.

"Under our Rebuilding NSW Plan, $500 million has been earmarked for the Newell for additional overtaking lanes, upgrades between Narrabri and Moree and Mungleback Creek to Boggabilla, widening between Coonabarabran and Narrabri, and bypasses for Parkes and Coonabarabran."

He said the path of the new structure would most likely be to the north of and parallel to the existing bridge, duplicating the road corridor from two to four lanes over the Macquarie River.

A study commissioned by Dubbo City Council in 2013 suggested Dubbo's insufficient bridge capacity during floods reduced Fire and Rescue NSW's capability to respond to emergencies in a timely manner.

The December 2010 flood had cost NSW taxpayers an extra $14,000 to protect both sides of Dubbo from fire and other emergencies, with officers from Delroy station put on a continuous retainer during the period to ensure a quick response to call-outs on the western side of the Macquarie River.

At the time region west area commander Neil Harris suggested the preferred option to resolve the problem was a second high-level bridge.

Back then, a consultant's report also showed a $30 million investment in duplicating the LH Ford Bridge would prevent future costs due to flooding of $62 million.

The investment was also projected to yield a total net improvement in economic activity of $162 million.