NSW roads and maintenance projects accelerated

Road and maintenance works across NSW are being brought forward as part of the state government’s $2.3 billion Covid-19 package announced in March.

The more than 70 regional road projects that are underway, or about to be started, are worth around $100 million according to Regional Roads and Transport Minister Paul Toole.

  Projects already under way include:

  • $1.1 million for road resurfacing projects in the Hunter region;
  • $1.5 million for safety improvements at the Pacific Highway Failford Road intersection on the Mid North Coast; and
  • $500,000 to fast track safety work to stabilise high-risk slopes along the Alpine Way in the Snowy Mountains.

Works in bushfire-affected communities to resurface roads such as Kings Highway and the Snowy Mountains Highway over Brown Mountain have been brought forward, and widening of the Newell Highway – a key freight corridor – has been fast-tracked.

The Mitchell Highway near the South Australian border will have 400km of rumble strips added to boost safety.

In related news, the first tranche of successful projects in the NSW Government’s showground upgrade scheme has been brought forward, with $12.5 million being allocated immediately to get 393 projects underway to improve and repair 137 showground sites right across the state this financial year.

A further $12.5 million will be allocated next financial year to help maintain the coronavirus economic recovery phase.

Elsewhere, the local council allocations under the $200 million COVID Works for Queensland program, were announced this week.

The funding for the Covid W4Q program, $50 million of which will go to councils in South-East Queensland, is to be used to “support the delivery of job-creating new infrastructure, maintenance or minor works projects, including the bring-forward of planned/budgeted maintenance or capital works that are focused on essential services, economic development, and community wellbeing outcomes”.

The Brisbane City Council will receive $5 million for shovel-ready projects via the program.

To view the list of funding allocations, go the Covid W4Q webpage.