A heavy vehicle by-pass to the west of Parkes will be built if the Coalition is returned to government after next March’s state election.
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This was the indication during a major funding announcement by Deputy Premier, Troy Grant and Roads Minister Duncan Gay in Parkes on Wednesday.
Mr Grant and Mr Gay were here to announce that more than $500 million will be spent on the Newell Highway.
It is part of the NSW Government’s $20 billion plan for Rebuilding NSW.
While making the announcement, Mr Gay also said $50 million would be made available for a ‘western highway’ around Parkes.
This is part of the ‘Western Ring-Road’ that Parkes Shire Council has been working on for many years.
A route for the by-pass has not yet been determined.
Parkes Mayor Ken Keith said the idea of a by-pass around Parkes has been on the local agenda since the 1950s.
“Things have changed dramatically since then of course.
'The announcement is very exciting and one called for by the transport industry and the residents of Parkes for many years.
“Residents are currently impacted by the constant stream of heavy vehicles passing through town at one per minute 24 hours per day," the Mayor added.
“The development of the bypass will remove around 1,500 heavy vehicles per day from the Parkes retail district, significantly improving local access, amenity and safety.
“It will also provide direct Newell Highway access to the Parkes National Logistics Hub.”
In recent years, council has been working towards the goal of taking heavy vehicles around Parkes.
“We have worked closely with the RTA, now Roads and Maritime Services and in fact, about six months ago, a $2 million feasibihlity was commenced,” Cr Keith said.
“The work council has put in will be among the options looked at.”
“The route has not been determined at this point, and could be some way off before it is decided.
“But it definitely looks like starting south of Parkes and coming back in to the north of Parkes.
“At this stage, it is all conceptual and will include an extensive community consultation process.”
In making the announcement, Mr Gay said the funding would be for the 2015/2016 year - ‘and of course, depends on us being relected.”
Newly appointed Western Regional RMS manager, Phil Standen - who was only last week announced as the replacement for Peter Deardon - was present for Wednesday’s announcement.
He said a by-pass for Parkes had been a high priority and after the feasibility study, work would commence on design and route for the project.
Meanwhile, more than $500 million has been earmarked for priority upgrades to the Newell Highway including additional overtaking lanes, upgrades between Narrabri and Moree and Mungleback Creek to Boggabilla, widening between Coonabaran and Narrabri, and bypasses for Parkes and Coonabarabran.
MORE on the announcement will appear in Monday’s edition.
The RMS has received $2 million in the current financial year to investigate the by-pass route and they are progressing with that work.
The alignment, treatment of the intersections, speed, among other things, all need to be determined and the community needs to be consulted as part of that process, Mayor Ken Keith said.
“That could take another 12 months or more.
“Council understands construction funding is subject to this governments re-election and the subsequent lease of electricity poles and wires, which all takes time.”
