28 September 2020

More than 130 people have worked for the past six months to deliver two overtaking lanes that are improving traffic flow along the Newell Highway between Coonabarabran and Narrabri.

Acting Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole said the latest two overtaking lanes to open marked 14 now complete under the NSW Government’s $500 million commitment to improve safety, reduce travel times and improve freight productivity along the Newell Highway.

“The Newell Highway upgrade progam will deliver about 30 new overtaking lanes over four years along our state’s longest highway, saving road users 25 minutes of travel time from the Queensland to Victorian border,” Mr Toole said.

“It’s great that we’ve been able to support so many jobs on this three-kilometre section at Pilliga alone, thanks to an alliance comprising Transport for NSW, and private companies BMD and AECOM, which helped to fast-track the new lanes.

“We know how important jobs are to regional communities right now, which is why local suppliers and contractors have been given priority to tender for work on each of the new overtaking lane projects since the project kicked off in 2019.”

Member of the Legislative Council Sam Farraway said the program was delivering on time and to budget, in a huge win for regional communities right up and down the Newell Highway, as well as freight operators who use the corridor.

“During delivery of these two new Pilliga overtaking lanes, which represent another three kilometres of overtaking opportunities, there was minimal disruption to road users,” Mr Farraway said.

“Over the construction period, the delay to motorists was less than 1.5 minutes and both lanes were open to traffic over 90 per cent of the time.”