Northern Distributor Road
Project overview
Work to repair the Northern Distributor Road commenced in April following the completion of testing which confirmed the existence of naturally occurring asbestos (NOA) in the area.
Latest news
May 2025 - Nightwork on the Northern Distributor Road in Orange on Wednesday 28 May
Read more in the latest notification letter (PDF, 264.87 KB).
April 2025 - Three weeks of changed traffic conditions
Three weeks of changed traffic conditions on the Northern Distributor Road.
Read more in the notification letter (PDF, 471.32 KB) and the media release.
February 2025 - Work starting soon on Northern Distributor Road
Work starting soon on Northern Distributor Road repair.
Read more in the media release.
January 2025 - Night road closures on the Northern Distributor Road in Orange
Detour in place for night road closures on the Northern Distributor Road in Orange from Wednesday 5 February.
Read more in the notification letter (PDF, 245.97 KB) and media release.
Project information
Responsibility for the Northern Distributor Road was transferred from Orange City Council to Transport for NSW in February 2023 as part of the Regional Road Transfer and NSW Road Reclassification Program.
In response to the deteriorating condition of a section of the highway between Icely Road and the Mitchell Highway, Transport for NSW reduced the speed limit of this section for the safety of all road users, until suitable repairs can be carried out.
The Orange area is a known Naturally Occurring Asbestos (NOA) area, and investigations in January 2025 confirmed its presence in the Northern Distributor Road corridor. This means that work to improve the road surface will be done in two stages:
- work to install a first new layer of asphalt will take place before winter, as cold and wet conditions can impact the successful placement of asphalt
- crews will then return later in the year to add several thicker layers of asphalt to provide a smoother road surface and allow for the eventual return of an 80 km/h speed limit for all vehicles.
NOA in its natural state is not considered dangerous to humans but it can become dangerous when broken up and fibres become airborne. The safest and best way to rebuild the Northern Distributor Road will be to lay new layers of asphalt over the existing surface, slowly building up the road and filling the potholes and rough areas.
For more information about NOA, read our FAQs (PDF, 283.92 KB).
Media releases
Traffic Alerts and Notifications
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Contact us
For further information about this project, please contact:
Phone: 1800 167 499
Email: western.projects@transport.nsw.gov.au