Despite some people still thinking it’s never going to happen, work on the Singleton Bypass continues to progress well.
Piling and pier formation is now underway on four bridges of the LGA’s largest-ever road infrastructure project.
The eight-kilometre bypass will divert the New England Highway from travelling through Singleton, avoiding five sets of traffic lights and removing about 15,000 vehicles a day from the town centre.
It’ll feature a single lane in each direction, a full interchange at Putty Road and connections to the New England Highway at the southern and northern ends of the venture and at Gowrie Gates.
The project includes the construction of six bridges, too.
And, it reached a major milestone last week when the first girder was placed on the longest structure – a 1.6-kilometre section on Doughboy Hollow floodplain.
“The Singleton Bypass will benefit many people who live in, work in and visit our region,” Hunter MP Dan Repacholi said.
“It’ll ease the passage of freight, improve safety and congestion, and deliver time savings for the 26,000 motorists who use this section of the New England Highway daily.
“This is just the start of transformative work for this project, with bridge columns coming out of the ground and the start of girder installation, which will continue over the coming months.
“Even though a few locals don’t believe it’ll eventuate, I look forward to seeing the project progress.”
Work is also proceeding on bridges located at the southern connection, the crossing of the Hunter River and the New England Highway at Gowrie.
Piling and construction of piers will continue across the project for about three months.
NSW Regional Transport and Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison praised everyone involved.
“Well done to the project team and its contractor, hitting the ground running with major construction starting last September,” she said.
“Bridge building is an important step… and motorists will soon begin to see the magnitude of the bypass taking shape before their eyes.
“The Singleton Bypass will improve the lives of people living and working right across the region through safer journeys, shorter travel times and more efficient freight transport.”
The project is expected to open to traffic in late 2026, weather permitting.
It’s jointly-funded by the Australian and NSW governments, with the Commonwealth contributing $560 million and the state chipping in $150 million.
“Quite simply, this is a game-changing project for the region,” state Labor spokesperson for Upper Hunter Emily Suvaal added.
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