TAKING the Willow Tree Road to and from Merriwa is becoming an even more attractive prospect for motorists with another 7.7km of sealed bitumen being completed by the end of January.
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The entire Willow Tree to Merriwa road upgrade is due to be completed, including full sealing, in mid-2019, at a cost of over $12 million.
The need to cart water daily to the roadworks from Merriwa has created extra challenges for the crews, too.
Upper Hunter Shire Council thanks drivers for their patience during this important road upgrade.
Work is already underway on Stage 2, which is widening of the cutting over the Liverpool Range.
This part of the project is about 3km long with a change in elevation of 200m requiring over 60,000m3 of rock and earth to be moved.
The linking of the Golden Highway and the New England Highways will save about 44km each way and provide a cheaper, faster and safer trip for those travelling in the Upper Hunter and Liverpool Plains shires.
The joint project by Upper Hunter Shire Council and Liverpool Plains Shire Council is funded with $5.57 million from the NSW Government’s Restart NSW Fixing Country Roads program, adding to the $800,000 NSW Government’s funding from the Regional Roads Repair Program.
In 2016, the Australian Government made $5.5 million available for the road upgrade through the Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program.
New England MP Barnaby Joyce said the upgrade would boost productivity in the Upper Hunter’s agricultural sector.
“It’s all helping to build our corridor of commerce in the New England, cutting travel times for heavy vehicles transporting stock and produce and providing a better return through the farm gate,” he explained.
Upper Hunter MP Michael Johnsen added it was great to see work progressing along the Willow Tree Road as a result of this significant road funding from the NSW Government.
“This new and improved road will greatly benefit not only our local Upper Hunter region as a result of increased business traffic, but also open up further tourist possibilities that our communities can take advantage of,” he said.