Monday, 26 June 2017
MOTORISTS across the Northern Tablelands will soon notice vastly improved roads, with a huge $46 million allocated to upgrade and repair the region’s network in last week’s 2017/18 NSW Budget.
Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall said in addition to fixing damaged and rough roads, the large upgrade program aimed to boost capacity for heavy vehicles.
“This capital works program will not only make travel much more comfortable and safe between our communities, but will also strengthen key sections of road to vastly improve freight efficiency.
“This is a huge investment in our region’s roads and industry and complements the recently announced Warialda Bypass, as well as the $7 million the region saw last year from the government’s Fixing Country Roads program.
“I am particularly delights with the funding for the Newell Highway, which is the most critical freight route in our region, and continued funding for Waterfall Way to massively improve another section.
“Waterfall Way is a key strategic link for Armidale and district to access the coast.”
Mr Marshall thanked the hard work of local councils in maintaining their extensive road network, saying that the NSW Government would help them fund these projects.
“Councils across the Tablelands will also see $10 million to help them tackle the repair backlog across the smaller regional roads,” Mr Marshall said.
” This will help them fix potholes, resurface roads and lay new bitumen – all while keeping costs down for ratepayers.
“There will always be more work to do on our local roads – but this massive injection of funding puts us in a great position to get a leg-up on our maintenance and improve efficiency for the transport industry.”
Projects to be funded this year include:
- $4 million for the replacement of the Nee Nee Creek bridge on the Newell Highway, 46km north of Moree;
- $800,000 for slope remediation on the Gwydir Highway at the Gibraltar Range, east of Glen Innes, plus $519,000 for drainage upgrades
- $1.6 million for fixing road surface on the New England Highway south of Armidale;
- $1.4 million for fixing Waterfall Way at Wollomombi;
- $940,000 to upgrade the roadway on the Newell Highway, 5km south of Gurley;
- $100,000 for resurfacing works on the Carnavon Highway, 11-17 km west of Moree;
- $100,000 for fixing sections of the Newell Highway, 56-61 km north of Moree;
- $70,000 to upgrade the New England Highway at Stonehenge, south of Glen Innes;
- $23 million to rebuild a section of the Newell Highway between Mungle Back Creek and Boggabilla;
- $2.5 million for more overtaking lanes on the Newell Highway in Moree Plains Shire;
- $979,000 for planning for more heavy duty road surfacing at North Moree;
- $2.89 million to Inverell Shire Council for road maintenance;
- $1.87 million to Moree Plains Shire Council for road maintenance;
- $1.89 million to Gwydir Shire Council for road maintenance;
- $1.42 million to Armidale Regional Council for road maintenance;
- $1.17 million to Uralla Shire Council for road maintenance;
- $694,000 to Glen Innes Severn Council for road maintenance;