New South Wales, News, Road upgrades

Traffic changes ahead as $287.2 million Parkes Bypass nears completion

There will be changed traffic conditions from next week as work continues on the $287.2 million Parkes Bypass project, due for completion by mid-2025.

The following changes are set to be in place from Wednesday February 5:

  • Thomas Street will be permanently closed between Moulden Street and Reedsdale Road.
  • Moulden Street between Condobolin Road and Back Trundle Road will permanently closed.
  • Ross Road will be reopened.
  • Traffic going to and from Back Trundle Road can use Ross Road and Condobolin Road.
  • The Over Sized Over Mass (OSOM) route for vehicles wider than 3.5 metres will be via Condobolin Road or Hartigan Avenue. Additional OSOM vehicle access will be via Victoria Street and McGlynn Street.
  • A section of Condobolin Road between Ross Road and Hartigan Avenue will be reduced to a single lane under stop slow traffic control while Condobolin Road continues to be upgraded.

Intermittent stopping and a reduced speed limit of 40 km/h will be in place on roads adjacent to the project which may affect travel times.

“The 10.5-kilometre bypass will deliver better trips for all road users when it’s finished, by reducing travel time, improving pedestrian access through Parkes and easing traffic flow in and around the town,” said Transport for NSW’s Holly Davies

“A number of key milestones have been achieved recently marking major steps towards the project’s completion.”

The new 10.5-kilometre Parkes Bypass on the western outskirts of Parkes will aim to reduce travel time, improve freight productivity and efficiency, and traffic flow.

The upgrade involves relocating the highway about two kilometres west, between Maguire Road to the north and Barkers Road to the south – a total length of 10.5 kilometres. The bypass will remove up to 1200 trucks per day from local streets.

In November, the Condobolin Road roundabout – the largest roundabout in the Central West – opened to traffic traveling between Condobolin and Parkes. In October and November, the two bridges being built for the bypass both moved closer to carrying traffic when six girders that support each bridge deck were lifted into place.

Ongoing work on both bridges includes earthworks to the approaches, asphalting, line-marking and the installation of concrete parapets with steel safety barriers, while the Victoria Street bridge will receive a concrete deck pour.

Earthworks, drainage and pavement construction have now been completed for most of the bypass while final asphalting and line marking on pavements are expected to be finished in March, weather permitting.

Other ongoing work along the bypass alignment includes street signage installation, grass seeding and landscape planting.

“All the elements of the Parkes Bypass project continue to come together and the day when road safety, travel times and freight efficiency will all be improved is rapidly approaching,” Davies added.

The Australian Government is contributing $229.76 million to the $287.2 million Parkes Bypass project, with the remaining coming from the NSW Government.

The project is part of the $1.5 billion investment from the Australian and NSW governments into the Newell Highway corridor, with the Australian Government committing $1.1 billion.

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