The New England Highway between Muswellbrook and Armidale will get a share of $849.8 million in upgrades, the biggest slice of a $1.74 billion package for three regional road corridors announced on Wednesday, 7 October.
The money for the Muswellbrook to Armidale corridor will go to key sections of the New England Highway, and pay for road, shoulder, and intersection widening, turning lanes, and new overtaking lanes. It will also fund intelligent transport systems, including digital signage to update motorists on traffic conditions and traffic monitoring cameras.
New and improved rest stops, pull-over bays, and heavy vehicle facilities will also be part of the upgrades, to better support freight operators moving across the state. More than 1,000 jobs will be supported across NSW.
NSW Minister for Roads Jenny Aitchison said the work would go well beyond patching.
“These will not be minor upgrades,” she said.
“Regional NSW deserves a road network that keeps pace with the communities and industries that depend on it, and that’s exactly what this monumental investment is all about.”
It is part of the new Regional Corridors Upgrade Program. The Australian Government is contributing $697 million, and the NSW Government is adding $1.049 billion.
The upgrades will be accelerated under the NSW Government’s Project Swift initiative. It aims to change the way projects are delivered by removing unnecessary processes, reducing duplication, and allowing more work to happen at the same time.
Premier of New South Wales Chris Minns said regional roads were central to the state’s economy.
“A strong regional economy needs good roads, and we need to keep investing in them to support local jobs, businesses and industries,” he said.
“This investment will make roads safer for local families, improve travel times and make it easier for businesses and freight operators to get their goods where they need to go.”
More information is available at https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/projects/current-projects/regional-road-corridors-upgrade-program
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