Planning for the Tenterfield Heavy Vehicle Bypass and an upgrade of the New England Highway at Bolivia Hill has kicked off. with the study areas for both projects released for the first time to the public.
The release of the study areas is part of the planning process which will help determine a proposed route, costings and realistic construction timetables for both projects.
Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Anthony Albanese, said extensive community consultation will occur as planning work progresses.
“The commencement of this planning work is good news for the community, who have been eager to see the progression of both projects,” Mr Albanese said.
“For the first time, the community will be able to view the proposed locations of both projects and provide their feedback on preferred routes.”
Tenterfield residents and New England Highway users are being urged by the Independent Member for New England, Tony Windsor, to have their say on the options available.
“The Tenterfield Heavy Vehicle Bypass and the Bolivia Hill Realignment of the New England Highway have both been projects that have needed to be done for many years.
“There are longstanding safety issues that need to be addressed quickly to make both the main street of Tenterfield and the Bolivia Hill stretch of the Highway safer.
“I encourage people to look closely at the options and make their views known as quickly as possible so the process of moving on to actually doing the work can be pursued,” Mr Windsor said.
NSW Minister for Roads Duncan Gay said both projects would improve safety, ease congestion and reduce travel times for the public.
“A bypass would take up to 600 trucks and thousands of cars a day off the local streets of Tenterfield and deliver safer driving conditions and shorter travel times for all motorists that use this section of highway,” Mr Gay said.
Further south of Tenterfield the section of highway around Bolivia Hill has a poor safety record. An upgrade would improve road safety, reduce travel times and ease congestion. The Federal Labor Government is providing $6 million to fully fund both these studies under the Nation Building Program. To view the displays online, visit: www.rta.nsw.gov.au/roadprojects/projects/index.html
