Pilliga
Project overview
The NHPA completed delivery of new northbound and southbound overtaking lanes at Pilliga, about 15 kilometres north of Coonabarabran in December 2020.
Work on new northbound and southbound overtaking lanes at three locations at Pilliga, between Coonabarabran and Narrabri started in June 2022. The delivery of the new northbound and southbound overtaking lanes at the multiple locations will take about 12 months to complete, weather permitting.
Project information
Background
Transport for NSW have partnered with BMD and AECOM to form the Newell Highway Program Alliance.
The strategic partnership will deliver about 30 additional overtaking lanes in an estimated four years rather than the likely eight years it would take to fund and deliver this work using traditional procurement methods.
This innovative mode of delivery will result in a minimum of 45 kilometres of new overtaking lanes to improve safety, reduce travel times, allow more accurate travel planning and improve freight productivity.
The new overtaking lanes are expected to provide around 25 minutes of travel time savings along the length of the Newell Highway from the Victorian to the Queensland border.
Features
The new northbound and southbound overtaking lanes will extend for a total of about nine kilometres, at three locations between Coonabarabran and Narrabri.
Road work to complete the final of three new sets of overtaking lanes commenced at the Dandry site, about 30 kilometres north of Coonabarabran on 21 November 2022 and is expected to be completed June 2023, weather permitting.
The NHPA completed delivery of new northbound and southbound overtaking lanes at Pilliga, about 15 kilometres north of Coonabarabran in December 2020.
Benefits
Once completed, road users travelling on the Newell Highway through Pilliga will experience increased overtaking opportunities to help improve journey reliability.
The benefits of the project include:
- improved safety for all road users
- reduced travel times
- more accurate travel planning
- improved freight efficiency
What you need to know
In response to restrictions and for the safety of staff, contractors and the community, work is being carried out on a two-week rotating roster.
This measure enables work on the overtaking lane sites to continue during this unprecedented time and continue to help support regional economies.
Workdays and hours are:
Week 1
- Tuesday to Friday: 7am - 6pm
- Saturday and Sunday: 8am to 6pm
Week 2
- Monday to Thursday: 7am to 6pm
- Friday to Monday: no work.
Traffic changes
Motorists are advised of changed traffic conditions including a reduced speed limit of 40 km/h and 60 km/h during work hours and a reduced limit of 80 km/h after hours, which may affect travel times.
All motorists are advised to drive to the conditions and follow the directions of signs and traffic control.
For the latest traffic updates, you can call 132 701, visit the Live Traffic NSW website or download the Live Traffic NSW App.
Next steps
The project team will keep the community regularly informed as the work progresses.
Thank you for your understanding while we complete this important work.
Project documents
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