The long-awaited Singleton bypass on the New England Highway has survived the recent federal infrastructure cuts and is now one step closer to becoming a reality.
Acciona Constructions Australia has been announced as the successful contractor for the 8km project, which will bypass five sets of traffic lights in the CBD and remove one of the Hunter region’s most notorious bottlenecks.
Funded under the old 80:20 arrangement between Canberra and the states, the Albanese government has committed $560 million and the Minns government is investing $140 million. Future projects such as this will be funded 50:50 after Infrastructure Minister Catherine King axed several major roading plans due to cost blowouts.
Since early work on the Singleton project began in late 2022, fencing has been erected along the corridor, existing buildings demolished, utilities relocated and additional geotechnical investigations have been carried out in preparation for major construction work.
Major work on the bypass is expected to start in mid-2024 and it is due to open to traffic in late 2026, weather permitting.
“There’s always been a lot of questions about whether the bypass would proceed and this announcement means we can now move forward with certainty,” said Singleton Council Mayor Sue Moore.
“People will be able to move around like they should be able to, more easily and without needing to plan around regular traffic congestion.”
This project forms an important part of the Australian Government’s wider $764 million dollar investment in projects along the New England Highway.