In response to the Federal Government's $13.88 million Roads of Strategic Importance initiative boost, the State Government allocated the Horsham Rural City Council $100,000 in its 2021-22 budget.

The funds were sought by the Department of Transport with the full support of Horsham Council.

Council will spend the money, plus $100,000 of its own budget, to investigate an alternative truck route in the city.

Mayor Robyn Gulline said the council would continue to advocate for better roads. Still, due to the Western Highway being a road of strategic importance, it is a state government project. The planning, construction and operation of the road will be state-run.

"Council has recognised that a second road bridge has been an emerging need for a number of years. We know that many trucks directly service the CBD. But there are many more which arrive via all three highways but don't need to be in the centre of town," Cr Gulline said.

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Cr Gulline said the truck route and bridge location would be determined during the next stage of planning work.

"There are several locations being considered for the second road bridge and alternative truck route. The one place we know it won't be appropriate is in the vicinity of the residential area of Waterlink Estate, opposite Hamilton Street, so having a pedestrian bridge there will not jeopardise plans for another vehicle crossing," she said.

Cr Gulline said the council could do both projects.

"On the other hand, the pedestrian bridge will offer an alternative to car-based commuting and will also create an additional circuit for cyclists and pedestrians exercising along the river," she said.

"Horsham does not need to choose between a pedestrian and road bridge, we can achieve both."

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