Transport Minister inspects Bolivia Hill

Following on from the announcement of $6 million to fund the planning and feasibility studies for the realignment of the New England Highway at Bolivia Hill, south of Tenterfield, and the Tenterfield Heavy Vehicle Bypass – $3 million for each – the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Anthony Albanese made an inspection of the Bolivia Hill stretch of the road in the company of the Independent Member for New England Tony Windsor and Tenterfield Shire Mayor Toby Smith recently.
Mr Windsor was pleased that the Minister could make the visit to see for himself the need for the realignment of the New England Highway at Bolivia Hill and for Cr Smith to have the opportunity to reinforce the need for the Tenterfield Heavy Vehicle Bypass.
He congratulated Cr Smith and the Tenterfield council and community.
“Tenterfield Mayor Cr Toby Smith has been a strong advocate for both the Heavy Vehicle Bypass and the realignment of the New England Highway at Bolivia Hill,” Mr Windsor said.
“He has persistently and consistently put forward both projects for funding over many years and I am therefore pleased that both projects are now going to have the necessary preliminary planning and feasibility undertaken as the forerunner to the works being undertaken as a priority of the NSW RTA,” he said.
“This has been the major stumbling block for these projects to proceed and is part of the agreement I struck with the government in which they indicated that they would ‘ensure appropriate consideration is given to road reconstruction on the New England Highway at Bolivia Hill, south of Tenterfield, and the Tenterfield Heavy Vehicle Bypass, when suitable funding programs become available’.
“I thank Minister Albanese for his visit and for the support of these two major projects that will benefit not only the local community but more broadly the travelling public and transport industry.
“An upgraded New England Highway at Bolivia Hill and taking heavy vehicles out of the main street of Tenterfield will mean a safer journey for all through this area; something I’m sure we all will appreciate,” Mr Windsor said.