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Grade separated level crossings set for key Inland Rail sites

Two sites on the Parkes to Illabo corridor in regional New South Wales will have existing level crossings replaced with grade-separated crossings

Two level crossings at key Inland Rail locations are set to be removed, with the decision to create grade separated overpasses and underpasses set to benefit road and rail safety and efficiency.

$350 million has been committed to the project by the NSW state and federal governments in an 80:20 funding split.

The federal government’s $280 million contribution is part of a broader $450 million commitment to grade-separating Inland Rail interfaces with roads across the state.

Level crossings on the Newell Highway at Tichborne and the Olympic Highway at Harris Gates are the sites subject to the works.

NSW Regional Transport and Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison says the improvement of freight efficiency is a key driver of the projects.

“The investment will improve safety at two key intersections on the Inland Rail route while realising the project’s potential to expedite the movement of freight on our road and rail networks,” Aitchison says.

“Crashes at level crossings have the potential to cause major trauma and even fatalities, which have devastating impacts on families and local communities.

“By grade separating road and rail we will eliminate the potential of incident at these two locations while paving the way for faster freight movements and business benefits for regional NSW.”

Geotechnical investigations, biodiversity studies and Aboriginal cultural heritage surveys of the Tichborne site and surrounds will begin on Wednesday, 12 February.

Works are due to be carried out on weekdays from 7am to 6pm until the end of March, weather permitting, with intermittent traffic conditions in place on the Newell Highway including stop/slow traffic movements.

The investigations at the Tichborne site will then be followed by similar works at Harris Gates in the coming months.

Senator for NSW Deborah O’Neill says Inland Rail will change the face of freight transport in regional areas once complete.

“The development of Inland Rail will be a boost for regional NSW, creating thousands of jobs and better connecting our cities, helping to move goods between Melbourne and Brisbane via inland NSW efficiently.

“Once these works are complete, there will be capacity for double-stacked train movements up to 1.8 kilometres long.

“Inland Rail is an investment in better connecting regional business, manufacturers and producers to national and global markets while enhancing national freight and supply chain networks.”

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