Chosen route aims to improve traffic flow and safety in Tenterfield’s CBD.
The Federal and New South Wales governments have settled on a preferred route for a future heavy vehicle bypass of the New England Highway at Tenterfield.
Both governments want the route to start just north of the Tenterfield Creek Bridge on the southern edge of Tenterfield and re-join the New England Highway near Cowper Street, north of Tenterfield.
The bypass is designed to improve traffic flow and safety in Tenterfield’s CBD, while also ensuring cars still travel through the region’s city centre.
“The heavy vehicle bypass will improve safety through Tenterfield’s central business district, which is very busy in terms of traffic and pedestrians,” federal MP for New England Barnaby Joyce says.
“This option was selected because it links most closely to the town centre and will encourage light vehicles to continue to travel through the Tenterfield central business district. It also includes overbridges to ensure connectivity with the western side of Tenterfield.”
The Federal Government has committed $6 million the project, while NSW has been working with the local community and stakeholders to select a preferred route from four shortlisted options.
The preferred route is now on public display and community information sessions will be held this month and next as part of the consultation process.
“Further planning of the bypass, funding and community feedback on the preferred route will be considered as part of the design concept stage,” NSW roads minister Duncan Gay says.
The New England Highway is a major interstate freight route between Newcastle and Queensland and acts as an alternative route to the Pacific Highway.