Bypassing the town is the preferred option for the future upgrade of the New England Highway at Scone.
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Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Warren Truss and Upper Hunter MP George Souris said the Australian and NSW Governments had each committed $45 million, by 2019, to build the project.
“We’re working together to get on with the job of delivering the infrastructure of the future,” Mr Truss said.
“Removal of the Scone rail level crossing will provide benefits to the NSW and national economies, as well as improve local traffic flows and road safety.
“The preferred option includes a New England Highway bypass of Scone and a road bridge over the rail line at Kelly Street to address rising traffic volumes and safety issues.
“The Scone bypass will support freight and long distance travel as part of the Sydney-Brisbane National Land Transport Network.
“The preferred option encompasses building a two-lane highway bypass to the west of Scone, passing through the Scone Golf Course, including bridges over the rail line south of town, and at Kingdon and Liverpool streets.”
Mr Truss said access to and from the bypass would be provided to the north and south of town and at St Aubins Street.
The golf course would also be re-configured as part of the project.
“In addition, a rail bridge will be built on the existing Kelly Street alignment for local traffic and emergency services,” he said.
“The Kelly Street bridge will be built after the bypass opens.”
Mr Souris said a road bypass received strong community support during the November 2012 and May 2013 options displays and the combined solution best meets the long term plans and strategies of governments, while catering for local traffic into the future.
“About 8000 vehicles use the Kelly Street rail level crossing every day including 1200 heavy vehicles,” he said.
“The New England Highway south of Scone carries 8400 vehicles per day, peaking in town at 14,000.
“Coal train operations through Scone are forecast to increase from seven each way per day to 24 each way per day by 2018, which will further impact the movement of vehicles across town.
“There is also a poor crash history on the four-kilometre section of the New England Highway in the study area with 25 crashes in the five years to 2013 including one fatality.
“Bypassing Scone also aligns with the NSW Long Term Transport Master Plan’s focus on providing essential access for regional NSW by providing town bypasses to improve travel within towns, reduce delays caused to freight traffic, increase safety and improve urban amenity.”
The upgrade is estimated to cost between $80 and $120 million and Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) and Upper Hunter Shire Council will continue to work together to develop the combined solution with the aim of delivering the upgrade within the allocated $90 million.
“The project will now move to concept design to identify the full impact of the project on property and undertake environmental impact assessment which will consider intersection layouts, flooding and drainage and the impact on community facilities,” Mr Souris said.
The options report containing more information is available from the RMS website at www.rms.nsw.gov.au/roadprojects