The temporary diversion will see motorists diverted from the Littlebourne Street intersection during the highway upgrade works over the next 18 months.

According to the Roads and Maritime Services (RMS), the short cut is expected to reduce peak hour traffic queues along the highway, between Boyd and Littlebourne streets and allow traffic to avoid the site.

“The diversion will operate between 7am and 6pm Monday to Friday and 7am to 1pm Saturdays for the duration of the upgrade work on the highway and will be manually operated for safety reasons,” the update states. “There will be additional signs on the highway to let motorists know of train movements so they can decide on the best route to take to and from the Kelso industrial area and Oberon.”

Motorists travelling from Bathurst towards Oberon will enter the diversion from the Great Western Highway, at the Stockland Drive intersection. They will then turn right into Lee Street and rejoin Oberon Road near the Scots School.

Motorists travelling from Oberon to Bathurst will enter the diversion at Lee Street, turn left into Stockland Drive, and re-join the Great Western Highway at the Stockland Drive intersection.

“The temporary diversion will be removed once the highway upgrade is completed, towards the end of 2016,” the update adds.

While the diversion is in operation, the RMS says Great Western Highway and Littlebourne Street will remain open to traffic at all times.

The $85 million upgrade of the 2.4 kilometre long section of the Great Western Highway at Kelso is expected to be completed by the end of next year.

The project involves rebuilding and widening the highway from Stockland Drive to just east of Ashworth Drive to provide a four lane divided road with a central concrete median.