The NSW and Australian Governments have announced major funding of almost $50 million to improve transport and freight links in country NSW.
Almost $10 million has been allocated to build new overtaking lanes on the Newell Highway, which will cut down travel times and improve road safety.
The extra overtaking lanes on the Newell also will help support freight movements in rural NSW.
The new overtaking lanes are planned in the vicinity of 32 kilometres north of Moree, northbound, 19 kilometres north of Jerilderie, northbound, 58 kilometres north of Jerilderie, southbound and 15 kilometres north of Parkes, southbound.
The two governments have also almost $40 million to replace the Kapooka Rail Bridge along the Olympic Highway, near Wagga Wagga.
Kapooka Rail Bridge is carrying an increasing number of heavy freight vehicles – about 150,000 truck movements each year – and this funding will result in the bridge being replaced and the removal of sharp curves on either side of the current structure.
Once completed, the project will open 315 kilometres of road for additional Higher Mass Limit use, removing 4,200 heavy vehicle trips each year.
The new bridge will cross the main southern railway to the north of the current crossing, which will benefit both local traffic and freight vehicles.
