THE biggest road infrastructure project in Bathurst’s history kicked into overdrive yesterday.
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Work on the NSW Government’s upgrade of a 2.4-kilometre stretch of the Great Western High-way at Kelso is worth $85 million.
When the work ends at the end of 2015, the highway will have four lanes, from near Lee Street at Kelso to Ashworth Drive near the Gold Panner Motor Inn.
As well as rebuilding and widening the road, the upgrade will involve building a central concrete median.
The NSW Government provided $22 million this year to get the ball rolling on the project.
Burton Contractors was selected in a competitive tender process earlier this year as the preferred tenderer for the contract for the upgrade.
Work will also include building a new bridge over Boyd Creek and upgrading intersections at Boyd Street, View Street and Pat O’Leary Drive.
New roundabouts will be built at Littlebourne Street and Ashworth Drive, and new pedestrian and cyclist access will be provided.
Member for Bathurst Paul Toole described it as the biggest road infrastructure project in the city’s history.
“There’s been big projects tackled in the past, such as the Evans Bridge over the Macquarie River, but never anything of this magnitude,” he said.
“Residents will have noticed new traffic lights have been installed at Stockland Drive and although there will be delays [with the new upgrade], I think everyone will agree it will be worth it in the end.”
Mr Toole said the project is part of the NSW Government’s commitment to improve road safety and freight efficiency.
“The work addresses existing peak congestion and also caters for predicted traffic growth as a result of developments occurring in the area,” he said.
Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) is advising motorists of changed traffic conditions on the highway as the project steps up a gear.
Work will involve installing concrete barriers and surveying utilities between 7am and 6pm from just west of Lee Street to just east of Ashworth Drive.
To reduce the impact on motorists, according to an RMS spokesperson, some placement of concrete traffic barriers between Littlebourne Street and Ashworth Drive will be carried out during two weeks of night work from this Sunday, October 19 to Thursday, October 23 and Sunday, October 26 to Thursday, October 30, between 8pm and 6am, weather permitting.
“New line marking will also be carried out at night in preparation for the start of major upgrade work,” the spokesperson said.
“During the work, two lanes of traffic will remain open where possible. When necessary, traffic will be reduced to one lane with traffic control in place.
“The speed limit will be reduced to 40km/h from Littlebourne Street to just east of Ashworth Drive.”
Mr Toole said the project had been talked about for many years, but no-one had been able to deliver.
“It’s the end result of active lobbying and meeting after meeting with the Minister for Roads, who realises how important the highway into Bathurst is as part of the bigger picture to accessing the Central West,” he said.
“The guys have started moving in and will be getting a lot of underground infrastructure sorted out before the actual physical works.
“People have talked about landscaping and I know there has been consultation with the people from Greening Bathurst to this end.”