Road upgrade works on a notorious stretch of one of the most important freight routes in the Moree Plains Shire, the Carnarvon Highway, is well underway according to Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall.
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Work has begun on the $3.5 million upgrade of a six-kilometre stretch of the highway between the Carole Creek Bridge, 11 kilometres north of Moree, and Marshall Pond Bridge, at the entrance to the village of Ashley.
The work will see the road surface completely rebuilt and widened.
Mr Marshall inspected the site recently with Roads Minister Melinda Pavey and said the project was part of a multi-million dollar program that was upgrading key freight routes across the area.
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“This section of the Carnarvon Highway is very narrow with crumbling edges and with the large volume of heavy vehicle traffic, it had become quite dangerous for all road users,” he said.
“It is a major transport artery between Moree and the towns of Mungindi, Garah and Ashley, with almost 2,000 vehicles using it each day, but this section has fallen into poor condition.
“A number of truck operators and local farmers have complained to me about this section of road so I was delighted to see an upgrade included in this year’s budget allocations and a start to the project already is very welcome.”
Mr Marshall said the work was being undertaken by Moree Plains Shire Council on behalf of Road and Maritime Services (RMS) and was scheduled to be completed in October this year.
“Already, the first two kilometres of this section of the highway has been rebuilt, widened by 2.5 metres and bitumen sealed, with another two kilometres to be sealed next month,” he said.
“The difference between the old and the new couldn’t be starker and I commend Moree Plains Shire Council for cracking on with this project so quickly.”
Mr Marshall said this project followed the completion last year of a $2.7 million reconstruction and widening of a 6.7 kilometre section of the highway to the immediate south, between Gwydir River Bridge and Carole Creek Bridge.
“In total, this 13-kilomtere stretch of the highway was the narrowest and most dangerous and I am delighted that after the successful completion last year, we were able to secure more funds to upgrade the final section and provide a safe highway for local producers and motorists,” he said.
“This is part of a record $60 million roads windfall for the Northern Tablelands in the recent State Budget and I’ll continue working with council to secure even more dollars to keep improving the condition and safety of our rural roads.”
