City of Newcastle (CN) is slated to spend more than $6 million to enhance road infrastructure in the ever-growing western suburbs.

Repairing and improving the surface of roadways, while boosting connections for pedestrians and cyclists, complement the large-scale projects in the pipeline this financial year.

It includes two dual-lane road upgrades at Longworth Avenue and Minmi Road in Wallsend, which are designed to reduce traffic congestion in the corridor.

Work is also progressing on reconstruction ventures at Irrawang Street (Wallsend) and Maryland Drive (Maryland), with the latter taking in the replacement of a pedestrian refuge to provide safer access to the nearby Maryland Neighbourhood Centre. 

About 70 blocks across Fletcher, Maryland and Wallsend will also have their road surfaces rejuvenated, while a project to rehabilitate a section of Awabakal Drive in Fletcher is now complete.

Residents in Fletcher will benefit from a new 120m-long shared pathway that is currently under construction on Minmi Road, too.

Patching and strengthening works are scheduled for roads in Beresfield, Maryland, Jesmond and Wallsend with grant funding from the NSW Government’s Regional and Local Roads Repair Program. 

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the projects recognised the significant growth that was continuing to occur in the city’s west, where populations had risen dramatically during the past decade. 

“We’re committed to meeting the needs of our LGA’s growing populace, which has increased by about 14% in 10 years and is forecast to pass 200,000 residents by 2041,” she explained.

“In fact, the Maryland, Fletcher and Minmi area is up by around 46% and Wallsend and Shortland increasing by more than 20% since the 2011 Census. 

“So, we need to maintain and enhance essential community infrastructure in these areas as part of our record $14.7 million investment into road resurfacing and rehabilitation projects across the city.

“CN’s investment in capital works has been growing over the past five years as we continue to balance infrastructure renewal with revitalisation projects to meet our community’s expectations that come with sustained growth.”

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