Work continuing on fully funded Parkes bypass project

Transport for NSW is forging ahead on the biggest transport project in Parkes – the Parkes bypass.

The project to build a 10.5 kilometre new section of the Newell Highway to bypass the main street of the town. It will take more than 1200 heavy vehicles and other traffic away from the centre of town each day.

The Parkes Bypass project is part of the $1.4 billion investment from the Australian and NSW Governments into the Newell Highway Corridor. 

The two-lane corridor will feature five key intersections and two new bridges, including one over Hartigan Avenue and the rail corridor and a second over the bypass on Victoria Street.

The Newell Highway is a critical link in Australia's freight transport network. It contributes to the competitiveness of Australia's agricultural and mining sectors by opening up access to essential freight networks in NSW, Victoria and Queensland.

These upgrades will better connect our regional communities and increase access for higher efficiency freight vehicles.

Work started in November 2021 and will be delivered in full, despite delays due to prolonged wet weather as well as the discovery of three areas of Naturally Occurring Asbestos (NOA) along the project alignment. This led to the pausing of work during 2023 while Transport for NSW and head contractor Georgiou worked on developing an Asbestos Management Plan in consultation with SafeWork and the Environment Protection Authority.

While the discovery of NOA initially slowed construction, work was able to restart under controls in line with EPA guidelines under the site’s Asbestos Management Plan.

Work is underway on multiple sections of the project including the Victoria Street bridge connection, with a major milestone to switch traffic onto a section of the newly built Hartigan Avenue extension planned for 28 February 2024.