Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke joined Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight Melinda Pavey today to announce extra overtaking lanes on the Newell Highway.
Ms Cooke and Mrs Pavey made the announcement on the highway near West Wyalong to announce 14 overtaking lanes between Narrandera and Parkes.
Ms Cooke said the NSW Government was working hard to accelerate the delivery of more than 45 kilometres of new overtaking lanes on the Newell and make driving safer.
“More than 3000 motorists use this section of the Newell Highway each day, so it’s essential these improvements are made to provide safer overtaking opportunities,” Ms Cooke said.
“Nobody enjoys being stuck behind a truck or a slow-moving heavy vehicle and this can lead to frustration, or worse. These overtaking lanes will provide more opportunities to overtake which are safe.
“The Newell Highway is an important link across the Cootamundra electorate and it’s fantastic to see these safety improvements being delivered.
“What’s more, the additional lanes along the Newell will deliver an estimated 25 minutes of travel time savings,” Ms Cooke added.
Mrs Pavey said that only the NSW Government is capable of delivering improvements to daily lives out in regional NSW.
“The NSW Government have been fighting hard for more jobs, better roads, safer, more efficient travel and lower freight costs for regional communities. This project delivers on this,” Mrs Pavey said.
Minister Pavey said working with industry the Liberals and Nationals will deliver at least 30 additional overtaking lanes on the Newell in an estimated four years, rather than the eight years it would take Government to solely fund and deliver this work.
Since 2011, the NSW Liberals and Nationals have invested a historic $523 million on the Newell Highway and $31.9 billion on regional roads.
For more information about the project visit http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/projects/western-nsw/newell-highway/index.html.
