John Renshaw Drive, Beresfield to Buchanan

Work will be starting between Lings Road and the Hunter Expressway on Wednesday 17 March.

Work will be carried out between 7pm and 5am from Sunday to Thursday. Some work will also be carried out occasionally during the day from 7am and 5pm from Monday to Friday.

We expect to complete the work in 12 months, weather permitting.

The NSW Government is providing $12.4 million funding over three years for improvements to the 10 kilometre section of John Renshaw Drive between the M1 Pacific Motorway and the Hunter Expressway. More than 12,000 motorists travel along this section of the road each day.

The first stage of road upgrades and safety improvements along John Renshaw Drive between the M1 Pacific Motorway and Lings Road was completed in early 2021.

Transport has engaged Cessnock City Council to start work on the remaining section, from Lings Road to the Hunter Expressway.

This project between Lings Road and the Hunter Expressway includes:

• Widening and resurfacing sections of the road
• Widening and repairing drainage infrastructure, including widening a large culvert at Buttai Creek
• Installing a wide painted centre line
• Installing audio-tactile line marking along the edge lines and wide centre lines.

Audio tactile line marking (ATLM)

ATLM, sometimes called ‘rumble strips’, are small raised bumps typically placed along the edges of roads and in the centre of roads to alert a driver when they are drifting out of their lane. ATLM generates a distinct sound and vibration when a vehicle tyre comes into contact with it.

ATLM is intended to allow drivers the opportunity to correct their path and reduce the risk of crashes due to driver inattention (such as fatigue).

Wide centre line

The introduction of a wide centre line will improve safety by providing greater distance for drivers to recover if crossing into the opposing traffic lane.

A wide centre line, when combined with rumble strips, can reduce fatalities and injuries caused by head-on crashes by up to 65 per cent.

There will be some temporary traffic changes to ensure the work zone is safe.

Lane closures and a 40km/h speed limit will be in place during work hours and may affect travel times. A temporary 60km/h speed limit will be in place outside work hours for the duration of the project.

For the latest traffic updates, please call 132 701, visit livetraffic.com or download the Live Traffic NSW App.

• March 2021 project notification

  Start of work on John Renshaw Drive, Buchanan from Monday 15 March.

• 12 March 2021

  Upgrade work to start on John Renshaw Drive.