Northbound motorists will now use the new lanes on the Barton Highway in a “significant milestone” for the project. Photo: Supplied.
Commuters will take a slightly different route now as the Barton Highway upgrade hits a new milestone.
At just over 50 km long, the Barton Highway connects the Hume Highway near Yass and surrounding rural and residential areas to the ACT.
All northbound Barton Highway traffic will switch onto new lanes while work is carried out to prepare the existing highway for southbound-only traffic.
Federal Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories and Member for Eden-Monaro Kristy McBain said the news was welcome.
“The Barton Highway duplication is something that our communities have been talking about for three decades,” she said.
“Today, we see the significant milestone where we will have traffic switched onto that duplicated part.”
Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King said the duplication would have an immediate impact.
“It is a significant connector for the people of NSW and the people of the ACT travelling to and from work, to and from social engagements and to and from family, as well,” she said.
The Barton Highway is used by around 13,000 road users each day, she said.
The Australian and New South Wales governments together committed $200 million towards the upgrade of the Barton Highway, with $150 million provided by the Australian Government and $50 million by the NSW Government.*
Melinda Pavey, Rowena Abbey, Wendy Tuckerman and Jim Molan pictured at the first sod-turning for stage one of the Barton Highway duplication. Photo: Supplied.
Major works on the duplication began in 2021.
“You’ve had to battle some very significant weather as this project has gone on [and] over 200,00 tons of earth have had to be moved through the construction of this part of the project,” Ms King said.
“With this milestone today, we really see Stage One ramp up – with the moving of traffic onto the new part of the road, that then allows the strengthening of the old part of the road.”
NSW Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison said the upgrade was also intended to make trips on the Barton Highway safer.
“We’re really pleased to see that this design will have an increased median [strip], which we know is a significant contributor to safety,” she said.
“We really want people safe on our roads, and part of that is making road upgrades like this.”
The works were initially expected to be completed in early 2023 but were delayed.
Planning is ongoing for the second stage of the duplication, which will start at the northern end of the first stage (near Kaveneys Road) and extend north towards Gooda Creek Road.
Further information on the Barton Highway project can be found online at Transport for NSW.
*CORRECTION: An earlier edition of this story incorrectly said the Australian and NSW governments each committed $150 million to the $300 million project. The project was actually $200 million in total, with $150 million provided by the Australian Government and $50 million by the NSW Government.
Original Article published by Claire Sams on Riotact.
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