A brand new 10.5-kilometre section of the Newell Highway, the $287.2 million Parkes Bypass first opened to traffic in April this year.
After the finishing touches were added over the following months, the Australian and NSW governments announced on Friday that the project is now officially complete.
It is one of the largest ever transport infrastructure projects to be completed in NSW’s central west.
According to Mayor of Parkes Shire Council Neil Westcott, the completion of the Newell Highway bypass marks a historic milestone for Parkes. “This project has been on the drawing board since the 1960s, and today we see it come to life.
“With freight volumes forecast to grow from a truck every minute to a truck every 30 seconds, the bypass was not only inevitable, it was essential for the functionality and liveability of our town.
“From an amenity perspective, the benefits will be significant. Reduced heavy vehicle traffic through the CBD will enhance safety and create a more pleasant environment for residents and visitors alike.”
Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King added: “This project improves safety, cuts travel times and strengthens one of the most significant freight routes in the country. It will help keep goods moving and our regional economies strong.”
The 1062-kilometre-long Newell Highway is one of the country’s busiest freight routes, linking Victoria and Queensland.
With the Parkes Bypass now open, truck drivers and freight operators will be able to get from Dubbo to Forbes without having to navigate Parkes’ town centre, removing up to 1200 trucks per day from local streets and helping to ease congestion in the regional hub.
“This is a transformational project for the central west,” said NSW Minister for Roads Jenny Aitchison. “Communities have been calling for a Parkes bypass for decades. “While the project hasn’t been without its challenges, it’s great to see the benefits it’s delivering for this community.
“By removing up to 1200 heavy vehicles a day from the heart of Parkes, we are strengthening the safety and liveability of the town and supporting local businesses to thrive.
“This is exactly what building better regional communities looks like.”
Mayor Westcott however also acknowledged the challenges that come with such a bypass, particularly for local Parkes businesses. “Over the coming years, we must work together, with Transport for NSW (TfNSW) and our business community, to ensure Parkes remains a destination, not just a convenient stop.
“Recognising this, the council has worked closely with TfNSW to guarantee easy access from the bypass into town.
“Entry points have been designed at both ends of the bypass, with a central decision point at Condobolin Road, where a large roundabout now stands.
“This roundabout, featuring a distinctive and colourful ‘halo’, will become an iconic navigation landmark on one of the longest and business transport routes in NSW, directing traffic towards Parkes, Condobolin, Orange, or the Special Activation Precinct. “To complement this, the council has developed a Western Entry Masterplan aimed at improving the road corridor from the roundabout into the Parkes CBD, ensuring a welcoming and efficient approach for visitors and freight alike.”
Some of the key features of the Parkes Bypass to be completed since April include the northern and southern tie-ins, the London Road T intersection, the new shared user path, the halo sculpture at the Condobolin Road roundabout, the link road which will be named Brolgan Road, and extensive landscaping.
The project has also delivered a new shared path for pedestrians and cyclists, as well as two bridges. One bridge crosses the new alignment of the highway along Victoria Street, connecting the local community to the Shallow Rush area and Parkes Christian School, and the second spans Hartigan Avenue and the rail corridor.
Local Wiradjuri culture is showcased on the bypass, with safety screens on Burral Bridge featuring artwork by local First Nations artists Kyah and Katlyn Turnbull, and signs featuring an artwork by Sauce Towney to be installed in early 2026.
The $287.2 million Parkes Bypass project was jointly funded, with the Australian Government committing $229.7 million and the NSW Government contributing the remaining funding.
we need these facilities in Dubbo , at the open truck stop , on the left side of the Newell highway, heading into Dubbo.