A section of Black Stump Way near Coolah has been widened and resealed to improve journeys between Dubbo and Tamworth for freight operators.
Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole said a 3.1km section of road, which links the Golden and Oxley highways, was widened by 1.5 metres on each side and resealed to increase its strength for use by Higher Mass Limit vehicles, including B-doubles.
“This $1.1 million project is one of more than 320 projects funded to date by the NSW government’s $543 million Fixing Country Roads program, which aims to unlock the economic potential of regional NSW by upgrading roads, bridges and truck washes across regional NSW,” Toole said in a media statement.
“Projects like these are important in supporting the regional freight task in NSW, which is expected to increase by 12 per cent to 286 million tonnes by 2036.
“On top of delivering more efficient journeys, the work at Black Stump Way has supported 10 local jobs at a time they were needed most.”
Member of the Legislative Council Sam Farraway said the project would deliver important benefits for all road users – from passengers to producers and from heavy vehicle drivers to the local school bus.
“This upgrade provides a safer link for freight and other traffic with the improved road surface now enabling all trucks to safely travel the route at the sign-posted speed of 100 kilometres per hour,” said Farraway.
“For livestock carriers who use this route, a smoother road surface will also reduce the likelihood of injury for livestock while in transit.”
The improved road surface will also reduce ongoing maintenance costs, with Warrumbungle Shire Council estimating savings of up to $27,500 per year.
“This equates to more than 111,000 heavy vehicle movements per year, and we expect this to grow by 2 per cent each year with more heavy vehicles to use the route following the upgrade,” Cr Doolan said.
“The route is also used to service coal mining operations in Gunnedah and Mudgee, transporting mining and plant machinery. It is also an important grain route from the Liverpool Plains agricultural region.”
The project received $1,027,085 through the NSW government’s Fixing Country Roads program with a further $100,000 funding contributed by Warrumbungle Shire Council.
For more information on the Fixing Country Roads Program, please visit nswroads.work/fixingcountryroads.