The new Scone Bypass will soon open to traffic enabling faster drive times along the New England Highway in NSW.
Daracon Group were contracted to construct the 5.5 kilometre bypass in March 2018.
With construction complete, a community walk was held on the weekend to celebrate the new route.
Deputy Prime Minister and Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said the entire region will benefit immensely from the bypass opening.
“[The] community walk is a fitting way to mark the completion of the project, which follows many years of planning, consultation and construction,” Mr. McCormack said.
NSW Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole said the bypass would change the way people moved in and around Scone.
“Until now, highway traffic passed through Scone along the main road access to the town which is also the main street through the central business district,” Mr. Toole said.
The 8400 daily vehicles will no longer need to travel through the town centre on the New England Highway south of Scone.
The grade-separated intersection at the southern end of the bypass, which crosses over the rail line and Kingdon and Liverpool Streets, will allow uninterrupted access to the bypass at the north and south of town and in the middle at Aubins Street.
On this section of the highway there had been 26 crashes in the five years to December 2015 and the upgrade is hoped to improve road safety in the area.
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