Have your say on the Muswellbrook Bypass
23 November 2020
Planning for the Muswellbrook Bypass is powering ahead, with community members invited to have their say on the preferred option.
Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole said the project would improve safety for all road users in the town centre and reduce travel times for motorists and freight operators on the New England Highway.
“We know how much this community wants a bypass that will give local roads back to local residents, and move trucks and other heavy freight out of town,” Mr Toole said.
“We have put out a preferred option for the bypass today and we’re asking the community to give their feedback so we can get the design right and start building.
“The New England Highway is a vital trade and tourism route for the Upper Hunter, with up to 20,000 vehicles passing through Muswellbrook each day, including about 2600 heavy vehicles, so today’s announcement is a great step forward.
“This project is not only important for delivering smoother, safer journeys for motorists, but it’s also expected to create 720 direct jobs and 1090 indirect jobs.”
Member for Upper Hunter Michael Johnsen said the community was eager to see the bypass become a reality.
“The New England Highway is a critical corridor of commerce – and this project will support the needs of the community now as well as future growth,” Mr Johnsen said.
“A route corridor for the bypass was announced in 2018 and we’ve since refined the alignment and connections with the existing highway.
“This provides about nine kilometres of new highway and full connections to Muswellbrook at both ends, with the location of the bypass south of Coal Road shifted east to reduce environmental impacts and to improve the road alignment. “We’ve also built in the capacity for further changes when they’re needed, including a
possible access at Coal Road.”
Feedback is now open on the preferred option for the design until Friday, 18 December, before further consultation is carried out next year on a more advanced design and potential environmental impacts. Comment may be provided to the project team by emailing
Muswellbrook.Bypass@aecom.com or by post to:
Muswellbrook bypass Project Team
Transport for NSW
Locked Bag 2030
NEWCASTLE NSW 2300
For more information about the project, visit nswroads.work/Muswellbrook