Acciona Construction Australia, the Australian branch of the Spanish conglomerate Acciona, has secured two road upgrade projects from the New South Wales Government, one for the Golden Highway at Whittingham and the second for New England Highway at Belford.
The $97 million safety upgrades on New England Highway between Belford and the Golden Highway involves building two travel lanes in each direction from Belford to the Golden Highway, and a flyover for vehicles turning right from the Golden Highway towards Maitland and Newcastle.
The safety upgrades on Golden Highway at Whittingham is part of the Golden Highway upgrade between Whittingham and Dubbo, for which the New South Wales Government is providing $109 million funding, with an additional $24 million funding from the Australian Government.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said that the upgrades will improve the safety and travel time for motorists in the area.
“This is a vital route used extensively by heavy vehicles servicing coal mining, grain production and other industries in the Hunter Valley and Central West,” he explained.
“The upgrade will involve building a new 30-metre-long bridge over Mudies Creek, five metres above the current road level and high enough to withstand a one-in-100-year flood.”
“This will deliver improved travel reliability for the 7,000 vehicles which travel on this stretch of the Golden Highway each day.”
The new bridge will form part of the Golden Highway and has been funded under round four of the Australian Government’s Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program.
Senator for New South Wales Perin Davey said the construction will be a big boost for local industries.
“These road corridors are designated B-Double routes and are used extensively by heavy vehicles servicing coal mining, grain production and other industries in the Hunter Valley and the Central West to access the port of Newcastle, so these works will be a huge win for many,” Davey said.
Both projects are expected to create more than 270 jobs during the peak of construction, which is expected to improve traffic flow for the 22,000 motorists who use the highway each day.
The upgrades are set to be completed in late 2024 and will be co-funded by the federal and state governments.
Related stories:
- NSW budget sets $50M for Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2 planning
- NSW Regional Road upgrades get further investment
- Footage reveals extent of road damage from NSW March flood