Governments have announced further milestones for major works on the important regional freight route, with traffic now set to ease due to one main change
In a joint announcement, the New South Wales (NSW) and federal governments have reported that work is underway on the final new overtaking lane to be built along the Newell Highway as part of an upgrade project that will deliver safety improvements and travel savings.
Crews have started work to construct a southbound overtaking lane at Bundidgerry, two kilometres north of Narrandera, in NSW. Work has commenced or been completed on 38 new overtaking lanes along the full length of the Newell Highway, south from Tocumwal to Narrabri in the north. The federal government has jointly funded 19 of the 38 overtaking lanes.
NSW Regional Transport and Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison says the project will help transform the state’s economy.
“The Newell Highway Program Alliance – a partnership between Transport for NSW and construction companies BMD and AECOM – has marked the fourth and final year of building new overtaking lanes the length of the Newell Highway, which connects Queensland with Victoria,” she says.
“We are on the home stretch with this important $236.8 million investment by the federal and NSW governments to improve journeys in the west of our state.
“The Newell Highway is a key regional route linking the south and north of our state, used by thousands of motorists every day.
“This is a particularly big benefit for freight operators who can more accurately plan their journeys and move valuable goods more efficiently.”
The government says overtaking lanes already under construction at Mirrool and Daroobalgie will be completed this week and work at the Pilliga rest area will be complete by the end of June.
Once complete, these new overtaking lanes will reduce travel time along the Newell Highway by around 30 minutes between the Victorian and Queensland borders. Federal Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King says the government is dedicated to delivering better road safety.
“The federal government has been working with the New South Wales government to deliver these overtaking lanes on the Newell Highway, delivering smoother and wider road surfaces for more efficient journeys along this key inland route,” King says.
“Our funding is key to ensuring the NSW road network is as safe and as efficient as possible. “This work demonstrates that the federal government is addressing the need to improve safety for motorists and freight transport operators at multiple locations on the Newell Highway.”