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On track for completion a year ahead of schedule, the New England Highway upgrade at Belford will mark another major milestone when the new flyover bridge opens to traffic in coming weeks.

Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison said the NSW Government is investing $97 million for the upgrade, which will provide around three kilometres of new dual carriageway on the New England Highway and a new flyover bridge for motorists turning right from the Golden Highway.

“The upgrade will improve safety, travel times and reliability for more than 25,000 motorists who travel along the New England Highway each day,” Ms Aitchison said.

“So far construction has supported about 225 jobs, which has brought an economic boost to the Upper Hunter community.

“Road users will soon be able to travel along the new flyover bridge as well as the new eastbound carriageway, which opened to traffic earlier this year.

“This is a major milestone for the project, which is also on track to be completed a year ahead of schedule which is a huge credit to our contractors and workers.”

In 2022, crews installed 12 concrete bridge beams that form the flyover bridge for motorists turning from the Golden Highway toward Newcastle and Maitland.

This included eight beams on either side of the highway measuring 19 metres long and weighing 40 tonnes each, and four beams spanning the highway measuring 33 metres long and weighing 65 tonnes each.

Work is continuing on the old section of highway, the access road for nearby properties on the Golden Highway and the new left-turn lane for motorists travelling towards Singleton that will connect to the new roundabout on the Golden Highway.

Work on the project is expected to be completed well ahead of schedule in late 2023, weather permitting.

Motorists are advised to follow the directions of the electronic message signs and drive with caution when travelling through the work zone.

Work on the upgrade will continue to be carried out weekdays from 7am to 6pm and on Saturdays from 8am to 1pm.

Traffic control and a reduced speed limit of 80km/h will be in place for the safety of workers and motorists.

Major work on the project started in late September 2021.

The project is being delivered by Acciona Construction Australia Pty Ltd on behalf of Transport for NSW.

For more information on the New England Highway upgrade between Belford and the Golden Highway, visit nswroads.work/B2G

MEDIA: Wendy Fitzgibbon | Minister Aitchison | 0408 427 540