Barton Highway Improvement Strategy - Barton Highway

The Barton Highway Improvement Strategy (PDF, 13.6Mb) has been prepared by Roads and Maritime Services in collaboration with Transport for NSW. It sets out the vision and objectives for the corridor, assesses the current performance, analyses the future growth along and on the corridor, and proposes actions to manage the corridor over the long term.

The Improvement Strategy details a series of safety, asset and traffic efficiency actions to address the current and future challenges along the road. The Improvement Strategy aims to provide transparency and certainty about the direction of future investment.

The objectives for the Barton Highway align with the objectives in the Long Term Transport Master Plan. The objectives for the Barton Highway are:

• Improve liveability and reduce social disadvantage
• Improve economic growth and productivity
• Provide scope for regional development and accessibility
• Improve sustainability
• Improve safety and security
• Improve transport integration process.

The vision for the Barton Highway between the ACT border and Hume Highway over the next 20 years is that it:

• Provides safe and reliable commuter access to Canberra
• Improves safety and amenity for the village of Murrumbateman
• Provides an alternative access route to Canberra
• Supports key freight movements between western and southern NSW and the ACT
• Caters for the mix of through, local and tourist traffic along the corridor.

Chapter 8 of the Improvement Strategy outlines the short, medium and long term investment priorities over the next 20 years.

Short term

In summary they are:

• Develop and implement two new overtaking lanes along the corridor. One will nominally be a south bound overtaking lane between Nanima Road and Spring Range Road. A second (north bound) overtaking lane will be either between Spring Range Road and the AcT border, or between Mundays Lane and Kaveneys Road depending on detailed design findings. Both locations will utilise the future duplication alignment with an upgraded pavement
• Using Intelligent Transport Systems (such as variable message signs, closed circuit television cameras and real time traffic monitoring devices) to inform and assist road users with travel decisions and improve incident management
• Continue planning for future staged duplication, including a review of the strategic design, identification of stages and triggers to commence development, and updating the estimated costs and expected benefits realisation
• Other targeted road safety works including intersection improvements, general delineation and line marking upgrades, and widening of lanes and road shoulders (including removing hazards from clear zones) to improve safety and access for all road users (particularly in the section closer to the ACT border)
• Investigate options to improve safety for cyclists, pedestrians and horse riders crossing the corridor within Murrumbateman village
• Develop and design the upgrade of the curves between Vallencia Drive and Gooda Creek Road at the north end of Section 4. The proposed works will utilise the reserved duplication corridor to provide a new two-lane road (one lane in each direction) which will ultimately form part of a dual carriageway (two lanes in each direction)
• Monitor the performance of the corridor every three years to ensure the need for future works is reviewed and timelines for implementation can be adjusted in line with the need.

Medium term

In summary they are:

• Construct the improvements to the curves between Vallencia Drive and Gooda creek Road at the north end of Section 4. The proposed works will utilise the reserved duplication corridor to provide a new two-lane road (one lane in each direction) which will ultimately form part of a dual carriageway (two lanes in each direction)
• Continue to review intersections to identify issues and upgrading intersections as required
• Providing additional overtaking lanes to maintain traffic flow and reliability
• Continue to provide the recommended clear zone requirements for the corridor
• Continue to progressively widen narrow lanes and shoulders
• Monitor and evaluate the introduction of Intelligent Transport Systems to ensure ongoing journey reliability.

Long term

In summary:

• Continue staged upgrades along the corridor to complement, or form part of, the future road duplication of this highway, including widening narrow lanes and road shoulders, reviewing and upgrading intersections, and monitor and manage the level of service for traffic on the highway
• Any future roadwork along the corridor should complement, or form part of, the future road duplication of this highway. This includes purchasing any duplication corridor land as the pavement and clear zone widths are progressively improved. These and other actions form part of the longer term strategy to ensure that this important corridor link provides safe and efficient travel now and into the future
• Monitoring the performance of the corridor on a regular basis to ensure the need for future works is understood and timelines for implementation can be adjusted accordingly.

For more information view or download the Barton Highway Improvement Strategy (PDF, 13.6Mb) and the Barton Highway Improvement Strategy Community Consultation Report (PDF, 3.54Mb).

The community was consulted twice during the development of the Improvement Strategy providing valuable local knowledge and insight into the issues and challenges along the corridor.

Chapter three of the Improvement Strategy summarises the consultation outcomes with key stakeholders, the community and elected representatives during August and September 2014. The community consultation outcomes were considered alongside the findings from the technical studies to develop the Draft Improvement Strategy.

The Barton Highway Draft Improvement Strategy was placed on public display in November 2015. A total of 112 submissions were received and helped to strengthen the final Improvement Strategy.

This feedback and the way it contributed to the final Improvement Strategy is presented in the final Barton Highway Improvement Strategy Community Consultation Report (PDF, 3.54Mb).

• November 2011 frequently asked questions
  Barton Highway Improvement strategy.
• May 2010 frequently asked questions

  Barton Highway Improvement strategy.

• October 2019 duplication business case

  Barton Highway Improvement strategy.

• January 2017 community consultation report
  Barton Highway Improvement strategy.

• January 2017 improvement strategy report
  Barton Highway Improvement strategy.

• November 2011 preferred road corridor boundaries report
  Barton Highway Improvement strategy.

• November 2013 economic evaluation report
  Barton Highway Improvement strategy.