The Australian and NSW Governments are investing $336million to deliver a New England Highway bypass of Muswellbrook. The bypass would improve travel times, freight efficiency and safety for all road users.
Latest news
JUN
2022
JUN 2022Submissions report now available
The Submissions Report for the Muswellbrook bypass project is now available to view.
More informationThe report summarises issues raised during the Review of Environmental Factors (REF) and design display, and Transport for NSW responses provided.
The NSW Government is investing $67.2 million to build the bypass which compliments the Australian Government’s $268.8 million investment.
View the Submissions Report (PDF, 38Mb).
When complete, the bypass will provide a major boost for freight travelling through the region while reducing heavy vehicles in the Muswellbrook Town Centre will improve safety.
Transport would like to thank all stakeholders and community members who commented on the concept design and review of environmental factors (REF) for the Muswellbrook bypass.
The feedback will help inform the final design and the community will be kept updated about the progress of work.
Please view the June 2022 project update (PDF, 227Kb) for more information.
APR
2022
APR 2022Update on funding and community consultation
The NSW Government is investing $67.2 million which compliments the Australian Government’s $268.8 million investment, totalling $336 million to build the bypass.
When complete, the bypass will provide a major boost for freight travelling through the region while reducing heavy vehicles in the Muswellbrook Town Centre will improve safety.
More informationTransport would like to thank all stakeholders and community members who commented on the concept design and review of environmental factors (REF) for the Muswellbrook bypass.
We are considering feedback and preparing a REF Submissions Report which is expected to be available to the community and stakeholders by mid-2022.
This feedback will help inform the final design and the community will be kept updated about the progress of work.
FEB
2022
FEB 2022REF display now closed
Thank you to those stakeholders and community members who commented on the concept design and review of environmental factors (REF) for the Muswellbrook bypass.
We will now compile all submissions into a summary report which will provide answers to all questions raised. This report is expected to be available to the community and stakeholders by mid-2022.
The feedback will help inform the final design and the community will be kept updated about the progress of work.
Project information
The highway currently passes through the centre of Muswellbrook. It is predominately a two lane road, restricted by numerous intersections, varying speed limits and nearby buildings with minimal setback from the road. The highway carries between 11,000 and 20,000 vehicles through the township each day, about 13 per cent being heavy vehicles.
The proposed bypass would reduce the volume of heavy vehicles travelling through Muswellbrook, improving safety and amenity in the township. The proposal would improve travel times by providing a free flow 100 kilometre per hour alternative route.
The preferred route corridor for the bypass was published in July 2018 and a preferred option for the bypass was announced in November 2020. The preferred option included a refined alignment of the bypass south of Coal Road, and full southern and northern connections with the existing New England Highway. Feedback received on the preferred option was considered to further refine and prepare the concept design and environmental assessment for the bypass.
The bypass would have significant benefits including:
- Improve network efficiency on the New England Highway, particularly travel times for long haul freight movements
- Improve safety for all road users in the town centre, particularly relating to heavy and light vehicle interactions
- Improve amenity of Muswellbrook township.
Transport for NSW will prepare a submissions report summarising and providing a response to submissions received during the review of environmental factors display period. The submissions report will outline a summary of any changes to the proposal in response to the submissions and other feedback during the display period.
The community will continue to be informed during the development and construction of the proposal. Transport will also continue to consult with all other relevant stakeholders and government agencies as the proposal develops.
Project documents
Project updates
| File | Title | Size |
|---|---|---|
|
November 2021 project update
Concept design and review of environmental factors display. |
4.84Mb | |
|
October 2021 project update
Community feedback on preferred option. |
209Kb | |
|
November 2020 project update
Preferred Option November 2020. |
4.11Mb | |
|
February 2019 project update
New England Highway – Muswellbrook bypass. |
318Kb |
Review of environmental factors
| File | Title | Size |
|---|---|---|
|
November 2021 Muswellbrook bypass review of environmental factors
Muswellbrook bypass – New England Highway |
51.8Mb | |
|
Appendix A
Biodiversity Assessment Report |
26.9Mb | |
|
Appendix B
Socio economic working paper |
10.9Mb | |
|
Appendix D
ISEPP Consultation |
83.7Kb | |
|
Appendix E
Flood Assessment |
32.6Mb | |
|
Appendix F
Mining Assessment Report |
23.4Mb | |
|
Appendix G
Government agencies and stakeholder consultation |
1.97Mb | |
|
Appendix H
Consideration of clause 228(2) factors and Matters of National Environmental Significance and Commonwealth Land |
102Kb | |
|
Appendix I
Surface and Groundwater Assessment |
10.1Mb | |
|
Appendix J
Phase I - Contamination Assessment |
24.7Mb | |
|
Appendix K
Traffic and Options Modelling Report |
23.9Mb | |
|
Appendix L
Noise and Vibration Technical Report |
27.8Mb | |
|
Appendix M
Heritage Assessment and Statement of Heritage Impact |
28.3Mb | |
|
Appendix N
Air Quality Impact Assessment Methodology and Data |
468Kb | |
|
Appendix O
Landscape Character and Visual Impact Assessment |
34.7Mb |
Reports
| File | Title | Size |
|---|---|---|
| September 2021 Community Consultation report | 4.74Mb | |
|
July 2018 options report
New England Highway Muswellbrook Bypass. |
14.7Mb |
Media releases
| File | Title | Size |
|---|---|---|
|
16 April 2021
Community feedback delivers better bypasses for Singleton amd Muswellbrook |
25.01Kb | |
| November 2020 - Have your say on the Muswellbrook Bypass | 24.8Kb | |
| December 2019 - Muswellbrook Bypass takes a step forward | 23.9Kb |
Contact us
For further information about this project contact:
Phone: 1800 517 222 (business hours)
Email: Muswellbrook.Bypass@aecom.com
Mail: Muswellbrook bypass project team, Locked Bag 2030, Newcastle NSW 2300