Work on a series of crossovers at the Marulan bypass has started this week, which aim to deliver safer, more efficient journeys for motorists and improve access for emergency services on one of the busiest highways in the state.
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The $8 million package of work on the Hume Highway at the Marulan bypass is part of the $2 billion Road Safety Program and jointly funded by the Australian and NSW Governments.
NSW Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole said the Marulan bypass was one of the state's busiest stretches of highway, with 24,000 vehicles using the road each day and 28 crashes reported in the area across the five years to June 30, 2019.
"Any incident on the Marulan bypass causes major congestion along the highway, making it difficult for emergency services to get where they need to as quickly as possible," Mr Toole said.
"The crossovers will allow traffic to be diverted across the median strip to the other side of the road during major traffic incidents to keep traffic flowing and improving the safety of our emergency services.
"Projects like this will save lives and bolster the resilience of the state's rural and regional road networks, which will make a real difference for those in the bush who depend on them."
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Federal Member for Hume Angus Taylor said the Australian Government's funding injection through the Road Safety Program is about getting boots on the ground and shovels in the dirt sooner.
"We are committed to ensuring these works are delivered as quickly as possible," Mr Taylor said.
"This is part of the Australian Government's determination to save lives and livelihoods - because we know that one death or injury on our roads is one too many."
State Member for Goulburn Wendy Tuckerman said the Marulan bypass was constructed in the 1980s and is nearing the end of its design life, so any work to boost safety in the meantime was a huge win for local communities.
"Over the next few years, significant rehabilitation work will need to be carried out to ensure the bypass can meet the increasing traffic demands in the years to come," Mrs Tuckerman said.
"The crossovers will play an important role in improving the safety of road workers and motorists when carrying out future road maintenance and planned rehabilitation work."
Work on the crossovers is expected to be completed by the end of July, weather permitting.
Work will take place between 7am and 6pm weekdays with one lane closed in each direction and a reduced speed limit of 40 km/h during this time.
A speed limit of 80 km/h will be in place outside work hours, with one lane in each direction remaining closed during weeknights but opening to traffic between 6pm Friday and 7am Monday.
Motorists are advised to follow the directions of signs and traffic control and should allow up to five minutes additional travel time.
For the latest traffic updates download the Live Traffic NSW App, visit livetraffic.com or call 132 701. To subscribe to receive regular updates about this project and other work on the Marulan bypass please visit our webpage or use the QR code at the foot of the page.
More information on the Road Safety Program is available at www.officeofroadsafety.gov.au.
