Works on an intersection upgrade on the Mitchell Highway in New South Wales have now wrapped up, with traffic flowing for the thousands of motorists who use the connection daily.
Works on the intersection, situated close to 20 kilometres east of Orange Crews have widened the highway near the intersection with Pretty Plains Road to provide a dedicated left turning lane for traffic turning into Pretty Plains Road.
The upgrades to the busy Pretty Plain Road intersection included the installation of flexible safety barriers; installation of audio tactile line marking (rumble strips) to alert drivers when they have crossed the centre line or run off the road, as well as wider lanes and centre lines.
Works also delivered new and upgraded turning lanes; improved drainage; and removal of some roadside vegetation to decrease the risk of black ice during the winter months.
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The project is part of $95.9 million Federal and NSW government funded safety upgrades between Bathurst and Orange. The road from Bathurst to Orange sees around 10,000 traffic movements a day and has a history of road crashes.
Transport for NSW Regional Director West Alistair Lunn said the upgraded intersection will provide motorists with improved opportunities to safely slow down as they prepare to turn from the Mitchell Highway into Pretty Plains Road.
“The problem has always been that motorists wanting to turn from the highway into Pretty Plains Road have had to rapidly decelerate from 100 km/h, running the risk of vehicles behind them not reacting quickly enough and creating further hazards,” he said.
“Now, turning vehicles can safely leave the highway and continue slowing to make the turn into Pretty Plains Road, while vehicles continuing along the highway won’t be impacted.”