Parkes Bypass
Project overview
The Australian and NSW Governments are funding the $187.2 million Newell Highway upgrade, Parkes Bypass. The Bypass seeks to improve connectivity, road transport efficiency and safety for local and interstate motorists.

Latest news
May 2023 - Community drop-in sessions
Transport for NSW in partnership with head contractor Georgiou Group invites the community to learn more about what's happening on the Parkes Bypass project.
Have a chat to our project team at our community drop-in sessions on 16 and 17 May.
Read the postcard invitation (PDF, 282.25 KB).
May 2023 - Naturally Occurring Asbestos Community Information & FAQs
Find out more about Naturally Occurring Asbestos on the Parkes Bypass project in the latest Community Information (PDF, 646.89 KB) and read the Frequently Asked Questions (PDF, 3.13 MB).
Dec 2022 – Naturally Occurring Asbestos
Areas containing Naturally Occurring Asbestos have been identified on the Parkes Bypass construction site. Read more in the community information letter (PDF, 893Kb).
Oct 2022 – Lane closures on Brolgan Road
From October 10 2022, lane closures will be in place on Brolgan Road for up to 14 weeks.
Read more in the notification letter (PDF 712Kb).
Aerial view of the bypass in September 2022. View or download the Parkes Bypass Detailed Design (JPG, 1.18Mb).
Project information
Background
Transport for NSW proposes to build a new 10.5-kilometre bypass on the western outskirts of Parkes to reduce travel time, improve freight productivity and efficiency, pedestrian access through Parkes and traffic flow.
We are delivering this work as part of the $520 million Newell Highway upgrade program to support the interstate freight industry, provide economic growth, and improve access and safety along a vital transport corridor in New South Wales.
The upgrade would involve relocating the highway about two kilometres west, between Maguire Road to the north and Barkers Road to the south - a total length of 10.5 kilometres. The bypass would remove up to 1200 trucks per day from local streets and improve safety for motorists.
Objectives
The Parkes Bypass will improve:
- Freight efficiency and productivity
- Access for high productivity vehicles (double road trains, B-triples, AB triples) through Parkes as well as providing a link to existing road train routes to the west
- Safety of the railway level crossings
- Travel times at Forbes Road level crossing (near Hartigan Avenue) and the Welcome level crossing
- Pedestrian access in Parkes particularly across Bogan Street
- Access to the Parkes Special Activation Precinct.
Features
The new highway west of Parkes will be about 10.5 kilometres long and key features include:
A two-lane road (one lane in each direction) with five key intersections including:
- Two T-intersections, north and south between the existing Newell Highway and the Bypass
- A split T-intersection at London Road
- A four-way roundabout at Condobolin Road
- A T-intersection with Bogan Road.
Two bridges:
- A bridge over two rail lines and Hartigan Ave
- A bridge over the Bypass on Victoria Street.
An extension of Hartigan Avenue (Henry Parkes Way) with intersection with Brolgan Road, Billy Mac Place and Condobolin Road.
Realignment, reconfiguration and changes to local roads including:
- Shifting part of Moulden Street to the west
- Maguire Road and Nock Road converted to cul-de-sacs
- New connection between Brolgan Road and Hartigan Avenue
- Connection between Thomas Street and Mitchell Street via the Reedsdale Road extension.
A new shared path for pedestrians and cyclists which will connect Brolgan Road, Condobolin Road and Victoria Street.
Naturally Occurring Asbestos
In September 2022, Naturally Occurring Asbestos (NOA) was identified within the Parkes Bypass site, in two cuttings between Condobolin Road (Henry Parkes Way) and Painter Street, and in a cutting adjacent Brolgan Road.
In addition, prior to the identification of NOA on the project, material from the affected areas was used as general fill material in other locations across the project site.
Following the discovery of NOA at these sites, work was immediately stopped as a precautionary measure whilst an Asbestos Management Plan was finalised. The plan involves implementing controls that ensure the safety of workers and the public while conducting works in areas affected by NOA as well as ensuring that the site is remediated prior to completion of the project.
In February 2023, the Asbestos Management Plan was finalised in consultation with SafeWork and Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) allowing work in these NOA affected locations to recommence. The NOA affected material that is required to be removed in order to construct the project is being excavated out of the areas shown in red in the maps below, with all blasting now complete.
Read more about Naturally Occurring Asbestos in our latest update (PDF, 646.89 KB) and Frequently Asked Questions (PDF, 3.13 MB).
Air monitoring devices have been installed in multiple locations to monitor the levels of asbestos in the air.
Transport takes its role in protecting the safety of the community very seriously and will continue to work closely with the EPA & SafeWork NSW in relation to the ongoing management of the site.
The results of these tests are available below.
- Air monitoring reports – April 2023 (PDF, 1.83 MB)
- Air monitoring reports – March 2023 (PDF, 1.72 MB)
- Air monitoring reports – February 2023 (PDF, 856.63 KB)
- Air monitoring reports – January 2023 (PDF, 687.39 KB).
- Air monitoring reports – December 2022 – Part 2 (PDF 1.7Mb)
- Air monitoring reports – December 2022 – Part 1 (PDF, 523Kb)
- Air monitoring reports – September 2022 (PDF, 857Kb)
- Air monitoring reports – October 2022 (PDF, 1.11Mb)
- Air monitoring reports – November 2022 (PDF, 1.31Mb)
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Community information
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
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 notifications
- March 2023 community notification (PDF, 520.89 KB)
Temporary closure of Thomas Street, Parkes from Monday 20 March - February 2023 community notification (PDF, 478.78 KB)
Continued changed traffic conditions at Brolgan Road in Parkes until May 2023. - February 2023 community notification (PDF, 417.73 KB)
Changed traffic conditions at Bogan Road in Parkes from Monday 6 February. - January 2023 community notification (PDF, 439.29 KB)
Temporary changed traffic conditions for blasting on the Parkes Bypass from Thursday 23 February. - December 2022 community notification
Naturally Occurring Asbestos identified on the Parkes Bypass upgrade project.
- October 2022 community notification
Naturally Occurring Asbestos identified on the Parkes Bypass upgrade project.
October 2022 community notification
Changed traffic conditions on Brolgan Road from Monday 10 October.September 2022 community notification
Naturally ocurring asbestos identified on the Parkes Bypass upgrade project.September 2022 community notification
Production blasting continues on the Parkes Bypass upgrade project from Thursday 8 September 2022.August 2022 community notification
Night works on Wednesday 17 August 2022.August 2022 community notification
Night work at Westlime Road and Brolgan Road intersection on Thursday 11 August.August 2022 community notification
Traffic changes on Condobolin Road in Parkes from Wednesday 10 August.July 2022 community notification
Night works at Condobolin Road and the Westlime Road and Brolgan Road intersection from Monday 18 July.July 2022 community notification
Traffic changes on Hartigan Avenue and Brolgan Road, Parkes from Wednesday 20 July 2022.June 2022 community notification
Controlled blasting on the Parkes Bypass project from Tuesday 14 June 2022.January 2021 community notification
Road closure on Victoria Street, Parkes from Monday 31 January 2022.June 2021 Community notification
1 June 2021 Works to commence on six high pressure gas protection concrete slabs within the Parkes Bypass corridor from Monday 21 June.June 2021 Community notification
1 May 2021 There are changes happening in your area: Parkes Bypass boundary fencing commences Wednesday 2 June.June 2021 Community notification
1 June 2021 Early works to commence on new local road between Brolgan Road and Hartigan Avenue from Wednesday 9 June.
Project updates
- May 2023 community update (PDF, 3.25 MB)
Newell Highway upgrade, Parkes Bypass. - May 2023 project update (PDF, 646.89 KB)
Newell Highway upgrade, Parkes Bypass. - July 2022 project update
Newell Highway upgrade, Parkes Bypass.
August 2021 project update
Newell Highway upgrade, Parkes Bypass.January 2021 project update
Newell Highway upgrade, Parkes Bypass.December 2020 project update
Newell Highway upgrade, Parkes Bypass.July 2019 community update
Newell Highway upgrade, Parkes Bypass.December 2016 project update
Newell Highway upgrade, Parkes Bypass.
Displays and posters
Reports
- Air monitoring reports – April 2023 (PDF, 1.83 MB)
- Air monitoring reports – March 2023 (PDF, 1.72 MB)
- Air monitoring reports – February 2023 (PDF, 856.63 KB)
- Air monitoring report – December 2022 – Part 2
- Air monitoring report – December 2022 – Part 1
- Air monitoring report – November 2022
- October 2022 air monitoring report – October 2022
- Air monitoring report – September 2022
- Operational Traffic Noise Assessment Report – November 2020
- Community consultation report – February 2020
- Submissions report – December 2019
- Community consultation report – December 2017
Review of Environmental Factors
- March 2021 - Appendix C - Construction Noise and Vibration Assessment Report
- January 2021 - Addendum Review of Environmental Factors
- July 2019 - Review of Environmental Factors Report
Main report.
July 2019 - Review of Environmental Factors Report
Appendix C - Landscape character and visual impact assessment, landscape concept and urban design report (October 2018).July 2019 - Review of Environmental Factors Report
Appendix D - Traffic and transport assessment (October 2018).July 2019 - Review of Environmental Factors Report
Appendix E - Operational road traffic noise and construction noise and vibration assessment report (January 2019).July 2019 - Review of Environmental Factors Report
Appendix F - Socio-economic assessment (October 2018).July 2019 - Review of Environmental Factors Report
Appendix G - Biodiversity assessment report (October 2018).July 2019 - Review of Environmental Factors Report
Appendix H - Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal heritage assessment report (October 2018).July 2019 - Review of Environmental Factors Report
Appendix I - Preliminary site investigation (October 2018).
Media releases
- 15 June 2022
1,200 trucks through Parkes a thing of the past thanks to bypass.
28 January 2022
Victoria Street bridge next step for Parkes bypass.15 November 2021
First sod turned on $187 million Parkes Bypass.25 August 2021
Contract awarded for construction of Parkes Bypass.22 July 2021
Focus on local links in countdown to Parkes Bypass.2 June 2021
12Km of fencing, 12,000T of concrete for next stage of bypass build.15 April 2021
Local contractors called to help build Parkes Bypass.18 March 2021
Tenders invited for the Parkes Bypass.2 September 2020
Early work to power the Parkes Bypass.14 February 2020
Community shapes Parkes Bypass.26 June 2019
Have your say on proposed Parkes bypass.
Contact us
For further information about this project, please contact:
Phone: 1800 741 636 (option 4)
Email: newell.upgrade@transport.nsw.gov.au
Mail: Newell Highway upgrade, Parkes Bypass; PO Box 334, Parkes NSW 2870