Singleton Bypass - New England Highway

Transport for NSW has shortlisted the tenderers to design and build the Singleton Bypass. A contract is expected to be announced in mid-2023.

The $700 million joint funded project will remove one of the Hunter region’s most notorious bottlenecks and is now entering the final steps of development and project approval.

The Australian Government has committed $560 million and the NSW Government $140 million to the project.

Transport for NSW has been working on revising the design, which now includes a full interchange with Putty Road and a new 600-metre bridge at the southern connection.

Work continuing to be carried out to progress the bypass includes additional environmental assessments, geotechnical and utility investigations, together with a survey to determine final project boundaries and ongoing discussions with impacted property owners.

The eight-kilometre project will bypass five sets of traffic lights in the CBD and is the largest road infrastructure investment in Singleton's history.

Early work is expected to start later this year and the project is expected to open to traffic by the end of 2026.

Please view the latest project update (PDF, 498.82 KB).

The New England Highway is part of the inland Sydney to Brisbane National Land Transport Network and the primary route connecting the Upper Hunter with Maitland and Newcastle.

The highway passes through the centre of Singleton and carries around 26,000 vehicles, including more than 3700 heavy vehicles, each day.

Traffic volumes are predicted to increase in the next 25 years. The planned bypass of Singleton would improve the movement of freight and journeys for current and future traffic demands.

A preferred option for the bypass was announced in 2016 and involves building a new section of highway west of Singleton across the floodplain, starting near Newington Lane and rejoining the New England Highway north of McDougalls Hill.

The project was approved in August 2020.

Transport for NSW invited feedback from the community about the Singleton Bypass concept design and REF from December 2019 until March 2020.

The public display has now closed and a submissions report (PDF, 20.29 MB) outlining feedback received from the community and our responses has been developed.

We will continue working with the community and stakeholders during the planning process to understand issues and minimise potential impacts

The concept design and Review of Environmental Factors (REF) were on display for public comment from Wednesday 18 December 2019 to Sunday 1 March 2020.

During this time, Transport for NSW received a total of 154 submissions relating to the New England highway bypass of Singleton. All submissions made during the display period have been addressed and responded to in a submissions report (PDF, 20.29 MB).

The New England Highway bypass of Singleton Submissions Report relates to the REF prepared for the bypass and summarises the issues raised as well as responses to each issue raised by the community, stakeholders and government agencies.

The community will continue to be informed during the development and construction of the project.

Transport for NSW will also continue to consult with Singleton Council as well as other relevant stakeholders and government agencies as the project progresses.

• September 2015 frequently asked questions (PDF, 121.33 KB)

  New England Highway bypass at Singleton - Route options.

• June 2013 frequently asked questions (PDF, 140.37 KB)
  Singleton Bypass Preliminary Feasibility Study.

• June 2013 community update (PDF, 1.2 MB)

  Singleton Bypass - Preliminary Feasibility Study.

• December 2022 project update (PDF, 593.77 KB)
  Start of early work.
• June 2022 project update (PDF, 498.82 KB)
  New England Highway – Singleton bypass – Project Update – June 2022.
• March 2022 project update (PDF, 370.4 KB)
  Field investigations near the New England Highway, McDougalls Hill, from Monday 28 March.
• August 2020 project update (PDF, 121.2 KB)
  New England Highway – Singleton bypass.
• December 2019 project update (PDF, 4.39 MB)
  New England Highway – Singleton bypass.
• August 2018 project update (PDF, 319.77 KB)
  New England Highway – Singleton bypass.
• December 2016 project update (PDF, 1.2 MB)
  New England Highway bypass at Singleton - Preferred route option.
• March 2016 project update (PDF, 648.33 KB)
  New England Highway bypass of Singleton.
• September 2015 project update (PDF, 1.56 MB)
  New England Highway bypass at Singleton – Route options.

• Review of Environmental Factors (PDF, 22.71 MB)

  Main Report

• Appendix A (PDF, 13.66 KB)
  Consideration of clause 228(2) factors and matters of national environmental significance.

• Appendix B (PDF, 8.53 MB)
  Landscape Character, Visual Impact Assessment and Urban Design Objectives Report.
• Appendix C (PDF, 36.4 MB)
  Non-Aboriginal Heritage Assessment Report.
• Appendix D (PDF, 14.94 MB)
  Socio-economic Impact Assessment.
• Appendix E (PDF, 52.66 KB)
• Appendix F (PDF, 106.11 KB)
  Statutory consultation checklists.
• Appendix G (PDF, 1.66 MB)
  ISEPP letter responses.
• Appendix H (PDF, 346.22 KB)
  Air Quality Impact Assessment.
• Appendix I (PDF, 38.51 MB)
  Biodiversity assessment.
• Appendix J (PDF, 13.2 MB)
  Surface and Groundwater assessment.
• Appendix K (PDF, 30.56 MB)
  Contaminated Soils Phase 1 Assessment.
• Appendix L (PDF, 22.79 MB)
  Traffic Assessment.
• Appendix M (PDF, 99.68 MB)
  Noise and Vibration Technical report.

• August 2020 New England Highway bypass of Singleton Submissions report (PDF, 20.29 MB)

• December 2016 preferred option report

  New England Highway Singleton Bypass Options Assessment.

• September 2015 route options identification report (PDF, 13.51 MB)
  New England Highway Singleton Bypass Options Assessment.

• March 2016 community consultation report (PDF, 4.15 MB)

  New England Highway bypass of Singleton.

• June 2013 preliminary feasibility assessment report (PDF, 5.84 MB)

  Main report.

• June 2013 preliminary feasibility assessment report (PDF, 13.66 KB)
  Appendix A - data collection.
• June 2013 preliminary feasibility assessment report (PDF, 8.53 MB)
  Appendix B - constraints mapping.
• June 2013 preliminary feasibility assessment report (PDF, 108.89 KB)
  Appendix C - traffic analysis.
• June 2013 preliminary feasibility assessment report (PDF, 58.92 MB)
  Appendix D - strategic design.
• June 2013 preliminary feasibility assessment report (PDF, 52.66 KB)
  Appendix E - construction cost estimates.
• June 2013 preliminary feasibility assessment report (PDF, 240.16 KB)
  Appendix F - economic appraisal.

• 19 November 2022 (PDF, 583.07 KB)
  Game-changing bypass a step closer with shortlist released.
• 16 April 2021
  Community feedback delivers better bypasses for Singleton and Muswellbrook.
• 20 January 2021
  Momentum builds for Singleton bypass.
• 24 November 2020
  Singleton Bypass locked in to bust bottleneck.
• 10 August 2020
  Planning for Singleton Bypass moves ahead.