Minister for Roads and Freight Duncan Gay was in Parkes on Thursday to announce the route of a new heavy vehicle bypass of the Newell Highway at Parkes.
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The bypass is part of the NSW Government’s $500 million investment to upgrade the key freight corridor, with $50 million reserved for the Parkes Bypass.
The route will see a new 10.5 kilometre section of the highway built north of Parkes, near Maguire Road reconnecting south of the town near Barkers Road.
A new bridge will also be built across the Parkes-Broken Hill railway line, allowing freight trains travelling the line to haul double-stacked containers.
“In 2014, the then local member for Parkes Troy Grant and the community told us a bypass of the highway would be vital for the future of the shire and we are today delivering the concept design for the new bypass,” Mr Gay said.
Parkes mayor Ken Keith the day was a very important occasion for Parkes.
“One truck passes through Parkes every minute,” he said.
“We’ve been advocating this for many years now...It’s been in the plans since 1960.
“[The plan] is to get the trucks out of the centre of town so we can have a friendly and safe place which people can come to.”
Parliamentary Secretary for Western NSW, Sarah Mitchell, is encouraging the community to have their say on the concept design.
“This design builds on Parkes Shire Council’s previous western ring road proposal and would improve traffic flow and would reduce the number of trucks travelling through Parkes town centre,” she said.
“Simply upgrading the existing route was not an option due to the risk to pedestrian safety, properties which would need to be acquired, impacts to access on remaining properties and to the heritage railway station.”
The preferred route will be open for consultation between December 8 and February 10.
