A preferred route has been selected for the future heavy vehicle bypass of the New England Highway at Tenterfield, NSW.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development, Warren Truss, said the decision is an important step in the planning of the project, which aims to improve traffic flow and safety in the Tenterfield central business district.
“The Australian Government has committed $6 million to plan the heavy vehicle bypass and an upgrade of the New England Highway at Bolivia Hill,” Truss said.
“NSW Roads and Maritime Services has been working with the community and stakeholders to identify a preferred route for this bypass from four shortlisted corridors.”
Federal Member for New England, Barnaby Joyce, said the preferred route starts just north of the Tenterfield Creek Bridge on the southern edge of Tenterfield and re-joins the New England Highway near Cowper Street, north of Tenterfield.
“The heavy vehicle bypass will improve safety through Tenterfield's central business district, which is very busy in terms of traffic and pedestrians,” Joyce said.
“This option was selected because it links most closely to the town centre and will encourage light vehicles to continue to travel through the Tenterfield central business district. It also includes overbridges to ensure connectivity with the western side of Tenterfield.”
New South Wales Minister for Roads and Freight, Duncan Gay, said the New England Highway was a major interstate freight route between Newcastle and Queensland and acts as an alternative route to the Pacific Highway.
“Further planning of the bypass, funding and community feedback on the preferred route will be considered as part of the design concept stage,” Gay said.
The public can view the preferred route and community consultation reports at the Tenterfield Shire Council, Tenterfield Post Office and Tenterfield Motor Registry, or online at www.rms.nsw.gov.au.