With around 26,000 vehicles, including over 3,700 trucks passing through Singleton each day, the Australian and NSW Governments are pushing ahead with plans for a Singleton bypass on the New England Highway to ease congestion.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said the New England Highway was a vital inland road link between Sydney and Brisbane and the primary route connecting the Upper Hunter with Maitland and Newcastle.
A total of $560 million has been committed to the project by the Australian Government and a further $140 million by the state government.
“We’re now seeking industry feedback on the best way to deliver the bypass so we can get shovels in the ground and construction happening as quickly as possible,” McCormack said.
NSW Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole said the bypass would remove one of the region’s most notorious bottlenecks.
“A bypass will be a real game-changer for this community,” said Toole.
“It will remove about 15,000 vehicles per day from the town centre, ease congestion and improve safety as well as deliver travel time savings for thousands of motorists every day.”
Federal Member for New England Barnaby Joyce said the bypass would be designed to cater for a later upgrade to a dual carriageway where required to meet future traffic demands.
“We’ve planned this project effectively and I’m excited that it is moving forward because it will make our region an even better place to live, work and visit,” Joyce said.
“The community has helped shape the design for the project and now we want to engage with the experts in the field to ensure we are well-positioned to deliver it as soon as possible.”