Newell Hwy upgrade Narrabri-Moree pavement upgrade

Read our notification (PDF, 415.45 KB) to find out more.

Up to 400 employees have been busy working on the $261.17 million Newell Highway heavy duty pavement upgrade from Narrabri to Moree, with more opportunities available for local job seekers and businesses.

People interested in working in the Narrabri area, will have an opportunity to attend a drop-in session for jobseekers and local businesses at the Tourist Hotel in Narrabri on Thursday 27 July, from 3pm to 6pm.

View the media releasefor more information or check out our video.

Read our June Community Update (PDF, 797.36 KB) for the latest information about the Newell HIghway heavy duty pavement upgrades between Narrabri and Moree.

Read our notification (PDF, 83.96 KB) to find out more.

Stop. Look. Think. Cross if safe. View our postcard (PDF, 169.63 KB)to read more.

Heavy patching works are taking place along the Newell Highway between Narrabri and Moree in response to ongoing flood recovery as well as the continued heavy duty pavement upgrades. Check out our Project Notification (PDF, 178.82 KB) to find out more.

Check out our Project Notification (PDF, 280.9 KB) to find out more.

Three power outages were recently completed in February, and Essential Energy are preparing for the next stage of power outages from Tuesday 14 March. Check out our Project Notification (PDF, 398.42 KB) to find out more.

Check out our Project Notification (PDF, 257.15 KB) to find out more.

As part of the next stage of construction, a series of planned power outages will be required in the Bellata township commencing from February 2023. Check out our January 2023 postcard (PDF 120Kb) to find out more.

View or download the Power Outages Fact Sheet.

Nov 2022 – Latest community update now available

The latest community update (PDF, 4.4Mb) for the Newell Highway heavy duty pavement upgrades between Narrabri and Moree is now available.

Oct 2022 – Industry working with farmers for a smoother, safer harvest

The NSW Government is working with farmers, businesses, councils and GrainCorp in the state's north-west to minimise the impact of construction work on the Newell Highway ahead of this year's grain harvest.

Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Sam Farraway said Transport for NSW worked with key stakeholders to develop a traffic plan to efficiently coordinate the movement of grain within construction sites.

Read the media release for more information. Check out our postcard (PDF, 159Kb) for tips on travelling the Newell Highway this harvest season'.

Sep 2022 – Wide Load Bay Explainer

Watch this animated video that explains how oversize over mass (OSOM) vehicles and their pilot vehicles should travel through construction zones with special wide load bays on the Newell Highway.

If you are travelling down the Newell Highway between Narrabri and Moree with an Oversize vehicle, please let our team know in advance on 1800 741 636 (option 3) or email newell.upgrade@transport.nsw.gov.au.

Aug 2022 – Latest traffic information for motorists

Please be aware that in addition to the Newell Highway upgrade project, there are a range of projects taking place along the Newell Highway between Narrabri and Moree impacting traffic.

Ongoing delays of at least fifteen minutesshould be expected. Please drive to the conditions and always follow the directions of signs and traffic control.

Check our August traffic notification (PDF, 289Kb) for more information.

Aug 2022 – Bellata community drop-in session

On Thursday, 10 August TfNSW in partnership with lead contractor Fulton Hogan, hosted a community drop-in session at Bellata.

Community members had the opportunity to meet the project team and learn more about the construction program and impacts to the local community.

View the Poster (PDF, 2.05Mb) for more information.

Jul 2022 – Work starts on the $261 million upgrade of Newell Highway

Work has commenced on the largest ever pavement upgrade of the Newell Highway, a $261 million joint investment from the Australian and NSW governments to widen and strengthen 27.3 kilometres of road along four priority sections between Narrabri and Moree.

The upgrade involves building entirely new sections of road as well as five new overtaking lanes, two new heavy vehicle rest areas, intersection upgrades and multiple new bridge-sized culverts for improved drainage.

The work, led by contractor Fulton Hogan, has now commenced along the first two sections nearest to Moree – section 5 and section 3.

View the media release for more information.

For more information about upcoming work activities and traffic changes, view the latest July 2022 project notification (PDF, 569Kb).

Jun 2022 – Calling local businesses and job seekers

The newest major road project for the Newell Highway in northern NSW will provide local jobs and business opportunities when work gets underway in July.

People interested in working on the three-and-a-half-year project will have an opportunity to attend drop-in sessions for jobseekers and local businesses at the Tourist Hotel in Narrabri on Wednesday 15 June and at the Max Centre Ballroom in Moree on Thursday 16 June, both from 3pm to 6pm.

View the media release for more information.

May 2022 – Community update now available

The latest community update (PDF, 7.41Mb) for the Newell Highway heavy duty pavement upgrades between Narrabri and Moree is now available.

Apr 2022 – Tender awarded for Main Construction Contract

Work is forging ahead on the largest ever upgrade of the Newell Highway, with the major contract awarded to Fulton Hogan Pty Ltd and construction set to commence mid-2022.

Fulton Hogan was selected in a competitive tender process to carry out 27.3 kilometres of heavy-duty pavement upgrades along four priority sections of road.

Read the full media release.

Sep 2021 – Tenders called for main construction contract

Tenders are now being invited from pre-qualified contractors with TfNSW for the Heavy Duty Pavement Upgrade project between Narrabri and Moree (Stage 1).

The project will include upgrading four sections of the Newell Highway between Narrabri and Moree to provide a safer, more reliable and less weather-impacted route which will improve access for freight.

A tender package has been released to market and be open for approximately eight weeks to engage the head contractor on the main contract for the work.

• View and download the Tender documents.

Works are planned to start in mid 2022 following the announcement of the successful head contractor for the main construction contract.

Local businesses invited to register their interest

If you're a business or supplier in the local area, you are invited to register your contact details and services by Thursday 14 October 2021. These details will then be made available to prospective tenderers to contact you for pricing during the tender period. Register your interest by Thursday 14 October 2021 via the Industry Capability Network (ICN) website.

Please note, those businesses that registered with ICN Gateway for this project earlier in the year do not need to register again.

May 2021 – Information session

On Tuesday May 4 TfNSW held an online information session for local and indigenous suppliers and contractors to learn more about how they may be involved in upcoming opportunities in the delivery of the HDPU project. To view the session please click on the session link.

The Austrailan and NSW Governments are investing $261.17 million in Stage 1 of the Heavy Duty Pavement Upgrade between Narrabri and Moree. Stage 1 works will include four priority sections (1, 2, 3 and 5) along the Newell Highway with 27.3 kilometres of new road pavement, intersection improvements, widening of road shoulders and the provision of five additional overtaking lanes.

This project will improve safety for motorists and reduce future maintenance requirements and costs.

Stimulus funding enabled early work to be completed in June 2020 consisting of water main relocations in Bellata.

• Increase travel reliability between Narrabri and Moree.
• Reduce travel times between Narrabri and Moree.
• Reduce the cost of maintenance along the Newell Highway.
• Reduce vehicle operating costs on the Newell Highway.
• Improve road safety for road users.
• Improve flood immunity of the Newell Highway between Narrabri and Moree.
• Improve freight productivity and access to the Moree Special Activation Precinct and Narrabri In-land Port.
• The project is expected to create 640 new jobs during construction.

Stage 1 of the project includes a total of 27.3kms of heavy duty pavement upgrades along 4 priority sections (1, 2,3 & 5) of the Newell between Narrabri and Moree.

Key features include:

• provide a heavy duty pavement to meet the existing and future freight needs along this section of the Newell
• widen the existing highway or construct a new two lane highway adjacent to the existing highway of 3.5m lanes, 2m shoulders, and 1m wide centreline cross section
• provide new 1.5km long dedicated overtaking lanes in five locations
• upgrade intersections and right turning lanes
• retain or improve the 110km design speed alignments
• improve access to private property and bus stop layouts.

Upgrade of drainage structures to improve flood immunity for the highway.

The primary objectives are to:

• Improve freight productivity through a safer and more reliable and less weather-impacted route
• Reduce travel times and improve connectivity for all road users
• Improve access to the future Moree Special Activation Precinct and Northern NSW Inland Port at Narrabri.
• Engage local community and ensure economic benefits are realised

Other supporting objectives are to:

• provide a 40-year traffic loading design
• develop a proposal that contributes to the economic development of the region and improves transport efficiency on this section of the Newell Highway in terms of travel time and vehicle operating costs
• ensure that all potential impacts of the proposal on the local community are assessed and appropriate mitigation measures are developed
• ensure an adequate level of service for existing and predicted traffic volumes
• ensure route development minimises the impact on environmentally sensitive areas and that appropriate mitigation measures are included in the proposal to manage any impact
• ensure stakeholder involvement in all phases of the proposal development
• ensure compatibility of the road network and the long-term land use planning for the area.

Where is the project up to?

Transport for NSW (TfNSW) awarded the main construction contract to Fulton Hogan Pty Ltd for construction of stage 1 of the project. This includes four priority sections along the alignment (sections 1, 2, 3 and 5).

Construction commenced on Monday 18 July 2022 in Sections 3 and 5, nearest to Moree’.

Why is the project needed?

The Newell Highway is the longest highway in NSW, running 1058 km through the state. As a major interstate connection between Queensland, NSW and Victoria, the corridor is vital for freight movements, connecting local communities and supporting tourism.

The Newell Highway Corridor Strategy (2015) identifies issues that affect reliability, travel speeds, travel time and, in particular, accessibility to the Newell Highway for High Performance Vehicles (HPVs).

The Corridor Strategy identifies a staged investment program, including short, medium and long term initiatives which have been developed into the Newell Highway Upgrade Program (2015). Initiatives within the Program include heavy duty pavement upgrades, town bypasses, road widening and realignment, heavy vehicle inspection stations, overtaking lanes, flood mitigation and safety enhancements.

This particular project is a cornerstone within the Newell Highway Upgrade Program. Work on the corridor north of Narrabri to the Queensland border was prioritised because of the pavement conditions and the contribution this section makes towards heavy vehicle productivity.

When will works start/finish?

Construction will start in July 2022. The project will take approximately three and half years to complete with an anticipated completion date in early 2026.

What will the work involve?

Initial activities will include:

• Compound establishment – including temporary offices, storage and parking areas will be established in Section 5 at an existing stockpile site approximately 3 kilometres south of Moree Airport, and in Section 3 at the Woolabar Rest Area near Bellata.
• Weed spraying – across the project length to prevent the spread of weed species in the project area.
• Vegetation removal in Section 1, 2, 3 and 5 – to enable construction works of the upgrades, some vegetation will be required to be removed. This vegetation will be removed in line with the Review of Environmental Factors (REF) that was prepared for this work.
• Utility works in Section 3 - work will take place in Bellata along the southbound lane of the existing highway between Oak Street and Temi Street to relocate utilities to accommodate the new alignment.
• Construction of a temporary sediment basin in Section 1 – to store sediment from service utility relocation works. This basin will be constructed in the project area located north of Murrumbilla Lane. The basin will be remediated following completion of utility works
• We will be working Monday to Friday (except for public holidays) between 7.00am and 6.00pm and alternate weekends on Saturdays and Sundays between 7.00am and 6.00pm for the duration of the project.
• We will let you know in advance if we need to do any work outside these times.

Should I expect delays?

Yes, as with any construction project on our major road corridors, there will be delays, however every effort will be made to ensure these delays are limited as far as practical and property accesses are maintained for local traffic.

With many other works being delivered along this corridor such as Inland Rail and essential maintenance activities, motorists should allow extra travel time between Narrabri and Moree.

There will be some temporary traffic changes to ensure the work zone is safe. Local intersection and lane closures, traffic control including short stoppages, and varying speed restrictions as low as 40km/h will be in place at times during work hours and will affect travel times.

Motorists should allow extra travel time during this work.

We appreciate your patience while this work is carried out.

What improvements will I see on the road?

The Project proposes a fit-for-purpose heavy duty pavement upgrade, road widening, changes to vertical alignment and culvert widening to improve flood immunity.

This project will improve safety for motorists, meet existing and future freight needs while also reducing future maintenance requirements and costs – for at least another 40 years!

Some of the key features include:

• widening the existing highway with 3.5m lanes, 2m shoulders, and 1m wide centreline cross section
• Highway realignment to improve geometry in section 1 and section 3
• new 1.5 kilometre long dual overtaking lanes in five locations
• improvements to private property accesses and bus stops
• upgrades to intersections and right turning lanes at all major intersections with the highway
• multiple new bridge-sized culverts including at Clark’s Gulley

There will also be the construction of two new rest areas within Section 1 of the project to provide more opportunities for drivers to stop and take a break.

Why have two new heavy vehicle rest areas been included so close to each other?

The decision to include the two rest areas as part of the project was in response to recent crashes along the section of highway just north of Narrabri, as well as requests from the freight industry to provide more rest areas to reduce fatigue related incidents.

The need for the heavy vehicle rest areas was based on the current Newell Highway Corridor Strategy. The strategy requires an informal truck parking area every 30 kilometres and a formal truck parking area every 50 kilometres. These two new rest areas will help fill the gap between Narrabri and Bellata and enable truck drivers to meet their fatigue management obligations.

There will be an informal rest area (class 5) about eight kilometres north of Narrabri that will be accessible by northbound vehicles only. This will provide about 10 nose to tail truck stopping spaces, rubbish bins and will utilise redundant existing pavement created by realignment through this section.

The second rest area (class 3) will be built about 12 kilometres north of Narrabri and will have northbound and southbound access, parking for up to 20 heavy vehicles, separate parking for 10 light vehicles and multiple caravans. It will also include toilets, lighting, picnic shelter, landscaping and rubbish bins.

Both rest areas serve a slightly different purpose i.e. short term vs. long term stop overs, as well as the increased capacity within rest areas over this length of highway.

Will you start stage 2 as soon as stage 1 is complete?

Right now, TfNSW has the funds to complete stage 1, which consists of four sections in total.

We are continuing to explore funding opportunities to deliver the next stage of works which includes heavy duty pavement upgrades in section 4 and upgrades to the existing Tycannah rest areas.

• September 2023 project notification (PDF, 415.45 KB)
  Changed traffic conditions on the Newell Highway for night works.
• July 2023 project collateral (PDF, 180.31 KB)
  Narrabri drop in session - local businesses and job seekers.
• June 2023 project collateral (PDF, 169.63 KB)
  Safety tips for pedestrians during construction work.
• June 2023 project notification (PDF, 83.96 KB)
  Changed traffic conditions on the Newell Highway south of Edgeroi
• June 2023 community update (PDF, 797.36 KB)
  Newell Highway Upgrade Heavy Duty Pavement Upgrade - Stage 1.
• May 2023 project notification (PDF, 280.9 KB)
  Changed traffic conditions on the Newell Highway at Bellata.
• May 2023 Newell Highway changed traffic conditions Narrabri to Moree (PDF, 178.82 KB)
• March 2023 Newell Highway planned power outages from 14 March 2023 (PDF, 398.42 KB)
• March 2023 Newell Highway traffic switch from 9 March 2023 (PDF, 257.15 KB)
• January 2023 Bellata Power Outages Fact Sheet
• January 2023 project collateral
  Bellata Community Session - Planned Power Outages.

• December 2022 project notification
  Out of hours work on the Newell Highway south of Moree on the 13 December.

• November 2022 community update
  Newell Highway Upgrade: heavy duty pavement upgrades (stage 1) Narrabri to Moree.

• October 2022 project collateral
  Tips for travelling the Newell Highway this harvest season.

• August 2022 project notification
  Changed traffic conditions on Newell Highway between Narrabri and Moree from 10 August 2022.

• July 2022 project collateral
  Bellata Community Drop-In session.

• July 2022 project notification
  Start of work on Newell Highway between Narrabri and Moree from 18 July 2022.

• June 2022 community update
  Newell Highway Upgrade: heavy duty pavement upgrades (stage 1) Narrabri to Moree.

• May 2022 project notification
  Survey Work on Newell Highway between Narrabri and Edgeroi, from Monday 30 May.

• May 2022 project notification
  Survey Work on the Newell Highway at Bellata, from Thursday 26 May.

• May 2022 project notification
  Survey Work on Newell Highway between Gurley and Moree, from Monday 23 May.

• April 2022 fact sheet
  Newell Highway Upgrade, heavy duty pavement upgrade (Narrabri to Moree).

• October 2021 project update
  Newell Highway Upgrade, heavy duty pavement upgrades (Narrabri to Moree).

• June 2018 project update
  Newell Highway upgrade, Narrabri to Moree and North Moree heavy duty pavement projects.

• 14 July 2023
  Narrabri locals invited to learn how to join the teams upgrading the Newell Highway in the north west.
• 20 October 2022
  Industry working with farmers for a smoother, safer harvest season.

• 20 July 2022
  Work starts on the $261 million upgrade of the Newell Highway between Narrabri and Moree.

• 2 June 2022
  Newell Highway Upgrade to keep jobs and economy thriving.

• 13 April 2022
  Contract awarded for largest ever Newell highway upgrade.

• 24 September 2021
  Tenders open for Major Newell Highway Upgrade.

• 3 May 2021
  Newell Highway upgrade a heavy duty boost for local jobs, businesses.

• September 2021 review of environmental factors consistency review
  Newell Highway Heavy Duty Pavements, Narrabri to Moree.

• November 2020 addendum review of environmental factors including appendices
  Newell Highway Heavy Duty Pavements, Narrabri to Moree.

• September 2018 submissions report
  Newell Highway Heavy Duty Pavements, Narrabri to Moree.

• June 2018 review of environmental factors report
  Executive Summary.

• June 2018 review of environmental factors report
  Newell Highway Heavy Duty Pavements, Narrabri to Moree - Main report.

• June 2018 Biodiversity Assessment
  Newell Highway Heavy Duty Pavements, Narrabri to Moree.

• May 2018 Aboriginal and historic archaeological survey report
  Newell Highway Heavy Duty Pavements, Narrabri to Moree

• May 2018 Operational traffic and construction noise and vibration assessment report
  Newell Highway Heavy Duty Pavements, Narrabri to Moree.

• May 2018 Urban design, landscape character and visual impact assessment report
  Newell Highway Heavy Duty Pavements, Narrabri to Moree.