The long-awaited Parkes Bypass is now complete, marking one of the most significant freight infrastructure upgrades in regional NSW.
The $287.2 million project delivers a new 10.5-kilometre section of the Newell Highway that allows trucks to bypass the Parkes town centre entirely.
Truck drivers travelling between Dubbo and Forbes no longer need to navigate local streets.
Up to 1,200 heavy vehicles a day are being redirected to the new alignment, improving safety for pedestrians, families and local businesses in the CBD.
A national freight route strengthened
The Newell Highway spans more than 1,000 kilometres and is one of Australia’s busiest inland freight routes, connecting Victoria and Queensland. Federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine King says the bypass is a vital investment in keeping goods moving and regional economies strong.
“This project improves safety, cuts travel times and strengthens one of the most significant freight routes in the country,” King says. “It supports communities while respecting the country it is built on.”
A bypass generations in the making
NSW Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison says communities have called for this bypass since the 1960s.
“By removing up to 1,200 heavy vehicles a day from the heart of Parkes, we are strengthening the safety and liveability of the town,” she says.
Local Wiradjuri culture is integrated throughout the project, including bridges named Burral Bridge and Sir Henry Parkes Bridge, as well as new artwork visible from the corridor.
A boost for town amenity and visitor access
Parkes Shire Mayor Neil Westcott says the bypass marks a historic shift for the region. “With freight volumes forecast to grow from a truck every minute to a truck every 30 seconds, the bypass was not only inevitable, it was essential,” Westcott says.
He says the town will continue working to ensure Parkes remains a destination, not just a bypassed stop. Council and Transport for NSW have coordinated access points from the new route and developed a Western Entry Masterplan to guide visitors directly into the CBD.
Bridges, paths and public spaces delivered
The project includes two new bridges, a shared pedestrian and cycling path, major intersection works, a new link road, landscaping and the striking halo sculpture at the Condobolin Road roundabout.
The bypass opened to traffic in April, with features and cultural elements progressively completed since then.