Changed traffic conditions are scheduled for Newcastle Road this week to progress construction on the Newcastle Inner City Bypass – Rankin Park to Jesmond project.

Staring Wednesday 29 January, work is being carried out to widen and realign the southbound lanes on Newcastle Road to increase capacity of the right-hand turn onto the Newcastle Inner City Bypass, towards the University of Newcastle.

It’ll take place at night from 7pm to 5am on Wednesday 29 and Thursday 30 January, and from Sunday 2 to Tuesday 4 February, weather permitting.

During work, there will be intermittent single lane closures of the southbound and westbound lanes.

With an anticipated increase in vehicles on the road network over the coming weeks, motorists are advised to allow extra travel time until the additional capacity of the right-hand turn has been completed.

Maitland Road at Hexham

The Hexham Straight Widening project is progressing along Maitland Road at Hexham.

To minimise its impact, work will be carried out overnight from 7pm to 5am.

• On Tuesday 28 January, there’ll be a “blackout” for over-size over-mass (OSOM) freight needing to contraflow over the northbound bridge of the Pacific Highway
• From Wednesday 29 January, there will be temporary changes for cyclists on Maitland Road between Old Maitland Road and the Hexham bridge. Cyclists travelling outbound towards Maitland or Raymond Terrace will travel within the road shoulder and then access the off-road shared path north of the Pacific Highway on-ramp. These changes will be in place for four months
• From Wednesday 29 and Thursday 30 January, there will be a temporary closure of the southbound steel bridge at Hexham. For motorists travelling outbound, a contraflow will be in place on the northbound bridge at Hexham. Motorists wishing to travel to the New England Highway or the M1 Motorway will detour via the Hexham Station U-turn bay

A temporary speed of 60km/h will remain in place through the project work zone during the day, with a reduction to 40km/h at night.

On Wednesday 29 January and Thursday 30 January, operators of OSOM vehicles with a ground contact wider than 3.2m or with overall width greater than 4.5m are advised to contact the team at least one day ahead of movement on 1800 515 141.

Significant delays will occur if failure to do so.

OSOM operators are advised the project operates on UHF channel 26 around the Hexham Bridge and UHF channel 45 for the remainder of the project.

Major work is also continuing from 7am to 6pm Monday to Friday; 7pm to 7am Sunday to Thursday; and between 8am and 1pm on Saturday.

Motorists are advised to follow the directions of signs and traffic controllers, use alternative routes where possible or allow up to 15 minutes extra travel time.

For the latest updates, download the Live Traffic NSW app, visit livetraffic.com or phone 132 701.

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