Traffic will soon be flowing on the final alignment of the $200 million Barton Highway in New South Wales for the first time.
The Barton Highway is an essential part of the NSW and ACT transport network, connecting communities to essential services, employment, healthcare, education opportunities and supporting freight movement. The project aims to improve the road safety of the connection, while enhancing tourism and driving economic growth.
This includes improving safety by separating traffic with a central median, improving travel time and increasing capacity of the major highway to better meet the needs of the future population.
Upgrades to the Barton Highway consists of two projects, with Stage One already under construction (the Barton Highway Upgrade Package), and Stage Two in planning (the Barton Highway Corridor Upgrade).
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When the reconfiguration of the existing highway is complete, the seven-kilometre length of duplication from just north of the NSW-ACT border to just south of Kaveneys Road intersection, will be open to four lanes, signalling the completion of the first stage of the Barton Highway upgrade.
Federal Regional Development, Local Government and Territories Minister and Member for Eden-Monaro Kristy McBain said the connection is a “strategically important” link between the southern and western areas of both NSW and the ACT.
“The ultimate goal will be a fully duplicated Barton Highway between the ACT and the Hume Highway, providing motorists with consistent, separated 2-lane driving conditions in each direction and constant overtaking opportunities without the need to merge,” McBain said.
Federal Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King said works on the project have endured challenging conditions.
“It is great to see strong progress on this project, which has battled the poor conditions of La Nina weather conditions resulting in higher-than-average rainfall,” she said.
“Despite this, work has carried on, with an impressive 254,000 cubic metres of earthwork completed and 60,000 tonnes of road surface rolled out.”
The Australian and New South Wales governments have together committed $200 million towards the upgrade of the Barton Highway, with $150 million provided by the Federal Government and $50 million by the NSW Government.
For more information on the project, click here.