If you’re taking a trip on the Newell Highway between Parkes and Peak Hill you’ll now get to where you’re going faster and more safely following the NSW Government’s completion of a major $36 million upgrade at Trewilga.
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On Friday Roads, Maritime and Freight Minister Melinda Pavey announced the completion of the project.
Eugowra man, Wilf Norris, was on hand to recall what it was like to watch the Newell Highway being built at Trewilga in 1935 when he was just seven years old.
“I rode a 20 inch bike seven miles to the Trewilga School. It was called Trewilga High because it was on a hill,” Wilf laughed.
“Things have certainly changed, I remember two lots of 10 draught horses in drays, one team carting wood, the other carting water to a big steam engine.”
Roads, Maritime and Freight Minister Melinda Pavey said the upgrade, which began in July 2016, involved widening and realigning 6.5 kilometres of the highway to improve safety for motorists.
“The NSW Government is determined to reduce the number of accidents on our roads and this project is another piece of the puzzle that will benefit motorists and the community for years to come,” Mrs Pavey said.
“The Newell Highway extends from the Victorian border to the Queensland border and is an important link for freight movements which is why it was essential these improvements were delivered.
“Trewilga is currently the only rural section of road between Forbes and Gilgandra which has a speed limit of 100 km/h but this will change from today.
“Now work is complete on these essential improvements, the speed limit along this section of the Newell Highway between Parkes and Peak Hill will be raised from 100 km/h to 110 km/h to complete the missing link along the highway.
“Since coming to government in 2011 we have tripled the roads budget in Central Western NSW and completed more than 80 road infrastructure projects and invested over $380 million in the region, resulting in thousands of local jobs.”
Mrs Pavey said the government had also built a 1.3 km northbound overtaking lane, a bus turning area at Baldry- Peak Hill Road as well as a truck parking area.
