Muswellbrook bypass - New England Highway

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.

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.

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.

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.

• November 2021 project update
  Concept design and review of environmental factors display.
• October 2021 project update
  Community feedback on preferred option.
• November 2020 project update
  Preferred Option November 2020.
• February 2019 project update
  New England Highway – Muswellbrook bypass.

• November 2021 Muswellbrook bypass review of environmental factors
  Muswellbrook bypass – New England Highway.
• Appendix A
  Biodiversity Assessment Report.
• Appendix B
  Socio economic working paper.
• Appendix D
  ISEPP Consultation.
• Appendix E
  Flood Assessment.
• Appendix F
  Mining Assessment Report.
• Appendix G
  Government agencies and stakeholder consultation.
• Appendix H
  Consideration of clause 228(2) factors and Matters of National Environmental Significance and Commonwealth Land.
• Appendix I
  Surface and Groundwater Assessment.
• Appendix J
  Phase I - Contamination Assessment.
• Appendix K
  Traffic and Options Modelling Report.
• Appendix L
  Noise and Vibration Technical Report.
• Appendix M
  Heritage Assessment and Statement of Heritage Impact.
• Appendix N
  Air Quality Impact Assessment Methodology and Data.
• Appendix O
  Landscape Character and Visual Impact Assessment.

• September 2021 Community Consultation report
• July 2018 options report
  New England Highway Muswellbrook Bypass.

• 16 April 2021
  Community feedback delivers better bypasses for Singleton and Muswellbrook.
• November 2020 - Have your say on the Muswellbrook Bypass
• December 2019 - Muswellbrook Bypass takes a step forward