Source: Mental Health Australia
Two new bridges built for the Singleton bypass are already delivering a benefit to the community by providing an alternate route for large haulage trucks working on the project, helping minimise heavy vehicle movements through the town centre.
Two new bridges built for the Singleton bypass are already delivering a benefit to the community by providing an alternate route for large haulage trucks working on the project, helping minimise heavy vehicle movements through the town centre.
The $700 million Singleton bypass is being funded thanks to a $560 million investment from the Australian Government and $140 million from the NSW Government.
Bridges installed across the Hunter River and the New England Highway at Gowrie in recent months have now had guardrails – or parapets – added.
Transport for NSW Executive Director Partnerships and Integration North Greg Collins said that has allowed heavy vehicles to use the alignment.
“The section of the New England Highway through Singleton carries around 26,000 vehicles, including more than 3700 heavy vehicles, each day and construction of the bypass has only added to that,” Mr Collins said.
“Having these two newly constructed bridges open for use by haulage trucks minimises further disruptions to the community and town centre as work continues.
“Trucks moving fill from earthworks at the northern end of the project can now travel through the project alignment to Putty Road, removing around 250 trucks per day from the town centre.
“With traffic volumes predicted to rise over the coming years, the bypass will make a massive difference to safety and amenity in Singleton, benefitting residents, visitors and local businesses.”
This off-road haulage allows larger trucks to be used during construction which means the project can be completed more efficiently, as well as minimising truck movements through the town centre.
The haulage of fill from the northern end of the project and along the New England Highway to the southern connection at Whittingham is still required, and Transport for NSW acknowledges the community impact of these extra truck movements through Singleton.
Earthwork material cut from McDougalls Hill is being used to build road embankments between the various bridges and overpasses which make up the bypass.
Overall, the Singleton bypass is about eight kilometres long and – when complete – will save motorists about six minutes in travel time, avoiding up to five sets of traffic lights.
The bypass will remove about 15,000 vehicles a day from the section of the New England Highway through the Singleton town centre, improving safety and easing congestion on one of the Hunter’s most notorious bottlenecks.
The bypass also includes a full interchange at Putty Road, and connections with the New England Highway at the southern end, the northern end and at Gowrie.
The bypass will improve the lives of people living and working right across the Hunter region through safer journeys, shorter travel times and more efficient freight transport and allowing Singleton to reclaim its main street.
The Singleton Bypass is expected to open to traffic in late 2026, weather permitting.