Newell Highway overtaking lane works underway

Works have now started on the construction of six overtaking lanes at three locations on the Newell Highway between Narrabri and Coonabarabran.

Initial work started last week at the Pilliga rest area, with a site compound, stockpile and fencing established.

Additional work to be carried out includes installing environmental controls, removing vegetation and road widening.

Transport for NSW anticipates the upgrades will help to reduce travel times and improve safety on a well-used section of road.

At a broader scale, up to 40 new overtaking lanes and road safety improvements are being delivered along the Newell Highway as part of the Australian and NSW government’s $1.7 billion major upgrade.

NSW Minister for Regional Roads and Transport Sam Farraway said that 23 overtaking lanes have already been completed and improving travel along the Newell.

“The three new sites had been selected to maximise safety, efficiency and value for money,” Mr Farraway said of the local project.

“All three sites will feature both northbound and southbound overtaking lanes, totalling about nine kilometres.

“There are significant cost savings associated with being able to build pairs of overtaking lanes rather than individual overtaking lanes at different sites along the Newell Highway.

“Additionally, working on pairs of overtaking lanes allows crews to establish just a single site compound instead of two, creates efficiencies in terms of geotechnical and environmental investigations and saves money in terms of construction time and traffic control set-up.

“The NSW government is building what matters to make daily life better through our $14.5 billion regional road and transport infrastructure pipeline.

“With the amount of work going on around regional NSW, it’s vital as a government we look to new ways to deliver projects that saves money, which can be invested into other projects that improve daily life for people in NSW.

Mr Farraway said these time and money savings are in addition to the main benefit of overtaking lanes – providing motorists with more opportunities to overtake safely.

The new Pilliga overtaking lanes will be built at Dandry, about 30 kilometres north of Coonabarabran; near the Pilliga Rest Area, about 63 kilometres north of Coonabrarbran; and near the Sir William Bridges Rest Area, about 24 kilometres south of Narrabri.

All three projects are expected to be completed in 2023, weather permitting.

Federal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton said the section of the Newell Highway from Coonabarabran to Narrabri through the Pilliga is a regular route for caravanners and heavy vehicles carrying freight.

“This stretch of the highway is long and winding, and it can often be difficult to find a safe place to overtake if you’re stuck behind a truck or caravan,” Mr Coulton said.

“As someone who regularly travels along this road, I know just what a difference these new overtaking lanes will make, ensuring journeys are smoother, safer and more efficient for all road users in this part of the state.”

The Australian and NSW governments are jointly funding a $1.7 billion upgrade of the Newell Highway, with the Australian government contributing $60 million to build new overtaking lanes and the NSW government contributing $168 million.

In addition to the overtaking lane works, the NSW government has committed $8.8 million to develop design concepts for the widening of the Newell Highway between Coonabarabran and Narrabri through the Pilliga.

The Pilliga widening project will improve safety along the corridor through the provision of a wider road that includes a one-metre wide centerline and flatter slopes on embankments.

Transport for NSW anticipates the preferred design option will be confirmed later this year before displaying a concept design and review of environmental factors next year.

Ongoing works to upgrade the Newell Highway between Narrabri and Coonabarabran come as construction is soon start on $261 million of highway improvements between Narrabri and Moree.

The works between Narrabri and Coonabarabran will result in changed traffic conditions, including speed restrictions.

Motorists are asked to drive to the conditions and follow the directions of signs and traffic control.