Owner/Driver #339

THE GOODS NEWS FROM THE HIGHWAY AND BEYOND
More overtaking lanes on the Newell
Safety and timesaving
benefits
for freight
transport
through joint
government
infrastructure
projects
WORK TO PROVIDE more overtaking
opportunities on the Newell Highway
has taken another leap forward with
two lanes recently completed at
Redbank and Coobang.
Federal transport minister Michael
McCormack says the investment in
new lanes is to improve the safety and
the efficiency of this key freight and
tourism corridor.
“Road users on the Newell Highway
are already experiencing improved
safety and more efficient travel times
with 17 new lanes now completed,
including the northbound overtaking
lane near Parkes and the southbound
overtaking lane at Redbank, near
Coonabarabran,” McCormack says.
“We look forward to the remaining
overtaking lanes being delivered,
providing even greater freight
productivity and safer and more
enjoyable journeys on the Newell
Highway.”
NSW minister for regional transport
and roads Paul Toole says the rollout
of the overtaking lanes was being
accelerated through a strategic
partnership with industry.
“To date, we’ve added 25 kilometres
of overtaking lanes on the Newell
Highway, enabling more efficient
freight transport and providing
around 15 minutes in time-saving
benefits to motorists,” Toole says.
“By the end of 2021, we expect to
have delivered 25 lanes as part of our
commitment to build a safer, stronger
road network in regional NSW.”
Federal member for Parkes
and minister for regional health,
regional communications and local
government, Mark Coulton, says the
Newell Highway works were helping
save lives on the state’s busiest freight
corridor.
“With these investments, we are
playing a part in reducing the
occurrence of fatigue-related crashes
on the Newell Highway,” Coulton says.
“Extending these overtaking lanes
will make using them less hazardous,
providing everyone with a safer and
more reliable road network in regional
NSW – one that will get motorists
home sooner and safer to their
families.
“It will also be a huge fillip for
freight, which will bring major benefits
to the region.”
NSW MP Sam Farraway says this
initiative is another example of the
Australian and New South Wales
governments working together to build
productive infrastructure that the local
community and economy need.
This commitment is reflected in a
further $59.5 million package of safety
improvement work to be rolled out at
seven projects, starting at Dustys Creek
and Redbank.
Work involves widening the
shoulders and centre line, as well as
installing audio-tactile line marking
“It will also be a huge fillip for freight,
which will bring major benefits to
the region.”
on the edges and centre of the road.
These safety improvements along
a one kilometre section at Dustys
Creek and a five kilometre section at
Redbank are also being delivered by
the Newell Highway Program Alliance.
Work at Dustys Creek started on
March 23 and is expected to take
three months to complete, weather
permitting, with work at Redbank also
underway.
In the 2020-21 Budget, the Australian
government announced $591.6
million in a joint $736.6 million
investment with the NSW government
for infrastructure projects along the
Newell Highway, including $60 million
towards overtaking lanes.
Upgraded heavy vehicle
inspection bays for Newell
A $2.3 million upgrade to heavy
vehicle inspection station bays
in the New South Wales central
west will drive improved heavy
vehicle safety along one of the
state’s busiest freight corridors,
the NSW government says.
Minister for Regional Transport
and Roads Paul Toole said
work to upgrade heavy vehicle
inspection bays on both sides of
the Newell Highway near Back
Yamma Road at Daroobalgie
between Parkes and Forbes
commenced in March.
“The NSW government is
already investing more than
$720 million as part of the
Newell Highway Upgrade
Program to improve productivity
right along the Newell,
particularly for trucks – and it’s
critical we also invest in safety
as part of our vision for safer
and stronger regions,” Toole
says.
“This upgrade to the heavy
vehicle inspection bays at
Daroobalgie will include a
new inspection shed, boom
gates, improved safety barriers
and resurfacing of the road
approaches.
“It will ultimately improve
efficiency and safety by enabling
more heavy vehicles to be
checked at different times of
the day.”
Work commenced on March 8,
which Sam Farraway, member
of the Legislative Council, says is
supporting around 15 jobs.
“Our heavy vehicle inspectors
play a critical role in ensuring
the safety of trucks on our roads
but some of the inspection
facilities themselves are quite
basic,” he says.
“The existing heavy vehicle
inspection bays will have roofs
built over them to protect
workers and freight operators
from the elements.
“A new amenities block
including a shower, toilets
and small storage room with
disabled access ramp will also
be built.”
During the work, which is
expected to be completed
soon, heavy vehicle inspections
will still be carried out along
the Newell Highway in various
locations.
Motorists are advised to follow
the direction of traffic control
and all signs, including reduced
speed limits.
18 APRIL 2021 ownerdriver.com.au