Truckies will get two new rest areas as part of the $216 million upgrades to the Newell Highway between Narrabri and Moree – but they’ll have to wait a while yet to use them.
Work began on the much-needed pavement work on Australia’s busiest freight network this week, but the first sods on the rest areas won’t be turned until mid-2023.
When completed there will be an ‘informal’ rest area about 8km north of Narrabri that will include 10 nose-to-tail truck stopping spaces and rubbish bins.
There will be another rest area 4km further north that will have northbound and southbound access, separate parking for heavy and light vehicles and will include toilets, lighting, picnic shelter, landscaping and rubbish bins.
In a notice to industry, Transport for NSW said other benefits of the upgrade project include:
- Improved road surface and road safety for road users
- Increase travel reliability and reduce travel times between Narrabri and Moree
- Reduce vehicle operating and maintenance costs on the Newell Highway
- Improved freight productivity and access to the Moree Special Activation Precinct and Narrabri In-land Port
- Improved flood immunity of the Newell Highway between Narrabri and Moree.
Works will take place from Monday to Friday and alternate weekends, between 7.00am and 6.00pm (except for public holidays) for the duration of the project that’s due for completion in 2026.
There will be speed restrictions and traffic changes during the work.
This project forms a major part of the joint Australian and NSW government $1.7 billion commitment to upgrading the Newell Highway.