The two westbound traffic lanes are nearing completion between the Reedy Stone Fruit outlet and just east of Littlebourne Street near the Kelso Fruit Market premises.

Traffic is expected to be switched to these lanes late next week.

Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) says the 2.4km upgrade involves widening the highway from one to two lanes in each direction from Lee Street to just east of Ashworth Drive near Harvey Norman.

“Traffic is about to be switched onto the new westbound lanes so the two new eastbound lanes can be built. Only one lane of traffic in each direction will be in place until later in the project when all four lanes are opened,” an RMS release said.

The RMS notes that when traffic is diverted to the new section of road, access to Pat O’Leary Drive and surrounding businesses will be maintained and connected to the new lanes. 

“Once traffic has been switched onto the new lanes, the existing road will be removed and the eastbound lanes will be built,” it said. “The large roundabout designed for the Littleborne intersection will be build in stages before being opened as a permanent roundabout later in 2016.”

In a further development on the project, the RMS notes the existing old Boyd Creek Bridge near the Caltex Service Station will be removed and the second half of the new bridge will then be built, with the new road surface later being laid on top. 

Work on the project, described by Bathurst MP Paul Toole as the biggest road infrastructure project in the city’s history, started in October 2014.

One of the most welcome additions to helping traffic cope with the roadworks was the opening of the temporary rail crossing at Lee Street.

It allows motorists to take a short-cut which will allow them access to Bathurst from the O’Connell Road side of town. The diversion, opened in July last year, will remain until the project is completed, possibly early to mid  next year.