Pilliga Widening

Investigation work is continuing to assist in developing a concept design for the Pilliga widening project including field surveys, geotechnical testing and environmental assessments. Find out more about where the planning is up to by reading the latest project update (PDF, 507Kb).

The Newell Highway is the longest highway in NSW and is a vital transport corridor between Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland, as well as a major interstate freight corridor between Melbourne and Brisbane providing freight access between key regional primary industries.

A substantial part of the Newell Highway between Coonabarabran and Narrabri was built as a “green fields” road in the 1960s largely through the Pilliga Scrub. This stretch of road consists of a narrow formation for an extended distance with steep, high embankment without sufficient barrier protection. The narrow formation contributes to increased risk for road users and safety concerns due to head on collisions on this high speed two lane road carrying heavy freight, recreational and regular traffic.

The Pilliga Widening project will improve safety along this corridor through provision of a safer, wider road that includes a 1m wide centerline and flatter slopes on embankments.

The NSW Government has funded $8.8 million for the next stage of concept design work which commenced in August 2021 and will take approximately 29 months to complete.

The primary objectives of the Pilliga Widening project are to:

• Improve road safety
• Improve efficiency for all customers

• Transport for NSW has completed the concept design work which commenced in August 2021.
• To date the project has involved the assessment of design options as well as technical and environmental investigations across seven sections of the Newell Highway (approximately 77 kilometres in total assessed) between Coonabarabran and Narrabri through the Pilliga.
• Safety design treatments investigated included a one-metre—wide centre line, widened shoulders and flatter slopes on the embankments either side of the highway.
• One of the sections (14 kilometres in length) known as Section 2,000 near the southern end towards Coonabarabran was identified as the most appropriate to prioritise and has now progressed to 80% concept design. See map showing this section below.
• Following strategic infrastructure reviews undertaken by the NSW government in 2023, there will be no further development work carried out.
• Subject to funding, the next steps for the project would be to complete the concept design for the priority Section 2,000 and environmental assessment prior to detail design and construction.

_{Pilliga Widening Concept Design Section 2000}

• December 2022 project notification

  Strategic options reviewed for Pilliga Widening Concept Design.

• September 2021 project notification

  Investigation work on the Newell Highway between Coonabarabran and Narrabri from Monday 30 August.

• February 2022 project update

  Newell Highway Upgrade - Pilliga Widening.

• 1 September 2021

  Contractor announced to lead design of Newell widening work through Pilliga.