Muswellbrook bypass - New England Highway

Reviewed

Project overview

The Australian and NSW Governments are investing $340 million to deliver a New England Highway bypass of Muswellbrook. The bypass would improve travel times, freight efficiency and safety for all road users.

Latest news

Jun 2022 – Submissions report now available

The Submissions Report for the Muswellbrook bypass project is now available to view.

The report summarises issues raised during the Review of Environmental Factors (REF) and design display, and Transport for NSW responses provided.

Following $4 million of funding for the strategic assessment phase, the NSW Government is investing an additional $67.2 million which compliments the Australian Government’s $268.8 million investment, totalling $340 million to build the bypass.

View the Submissions Report (PDF, 38Mb).

When complete, the bypass will provide a major boost for freight travelling through the region while reducing heavy vehicles in the Muswellbrook Town Centre will improve safety.

Transport would like to thank all stakeholders and community members who commented on the concept design and review of environmental factors (REF) for the Muswellbrook bypass.

The feedback will help inform the final design and the community will be kept updated about the progress of work.

Please view the June 2022 project update (PDF, 227Kb) for more information.

 

Interactive portal

To learn more about this project, view our interactive portal for more information.

Project information

Background

The highway currently passes through the centre of Muswellbrook. It is predominately a two lane road, restricted by numerous intersections, varying speed limits and nearby buildings with minimal setback from the road. The highway carries between 11,000 and 20,000 vehicles through the township each day, about 13 per cent being heavy vehicles.

The proposed bypass would reduce the volume of heavy vehicles travelling through Muswellbrook, improving safety and amenity in the township. The proposal would improve travel times by providing a free flow 100 kilometre per hour alternative route.

The preferred route corridor for the bypass was published in July 2018 and a preferred option for the bypass was announced in November 2020. The preferred option included a refined alignment of the bypass south of Coal Road, and full southern and northern connections with the existing New England Highway. Feedback received on the preferred option was considered to further refine and prepare the concept design and environmental assessment for the bypass.

Objectives

The bypass would have significant benefits including:

  • Improve network efficiency on the New England Highway, particularly travel times for long haul freight movements
  • Improve safety for all road users in the town centre, particularly relating to heavy and light vehicle interactions
  • Improve amenity of Muswellbrook township.

Next steps

Transport for NSW will continue to consult with property owners, residents and other impacted stakeholders and keep the community informed as the project progresses.

We will start early enabling work in late 2022 and continue developing the detailed design for the main work, which is due to start in 2023 and be completed in 2027.

Project documents

Some documents on this page may not comply with accessibility requirements (WCAG).

If you are having trouble accessing information in these documents, please contact us.

 

Project updates

Review of environmental factors

Reports

Media releases

Contact us

For further information about this project, please contact:

Phone: 1800 517 222

Email: Muswellbrook.Bypass@transport.nsw.gov.au

Mail: Muswellbrook bypass project team, Locked Bag 2030, Newcastle NSW 2300