The NSW Nationals in the state and federal governments, along with the Upper Hunter Shire Council, are investing $15 million to upgrade key roads.
Deputy Premier John Barilaro said work is now underway on a $6.2 million project to deliver safer, faster journeys between Scone and Merriwa by vastly improving Bunnan Road.
“The NSW Nationals in government have invested millions to fix key freight pinch points in the Upper Hunter Shire and have delivered projects like the new Omadale Brook Bridge, the Starrs Crossing Bridge at Timor and the upgrade of the Scone truck wash,” Mr Barilaro said.
“This upgrade of Bunnan Road will mean better resilience to landslips, a wider, stronger road able to accommodate heavier vehicles and a slow vehicle lane to clear a bottleneck between Sophia Creek Road and Ollerton Drive.”
The Bunnan Road upgrade will be completed in three sections with $2.9 million from the NSW Nationals in the state government’s Fixing Country Roads program, matching funding from the NSW Nationals in the federal government’s Roads to Recovery program, and $400,000 from Upper Hunter Shire Council.
NSW Nationals Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole said work would start in October on Moonan Brook Road – the first of two projects being upgraded in Upper Hunter Shire thanks to $9.6 million in funding from the NSW Nationals in the state and federal governments.
Mr Toole said the upgrades of Bunnan Road, Moonan Brook Road and Barrington Tops Forest Road would not only deliver safer journeys for road users but create more than 50 jobs.
“Projects like these have unlocked regional job opportunities in construction, while providing upgraded freight routes to save time and deliver smoother, safer and more efficient bridges and roads,” Mr Toole said.
