New England Highway bypass at Singleton Preferred route optionDecember 2016

The NSW Government has committed $92 million towards the Singleton bypass under Rebuilding NSW.

Roads and Maritime Services has identified the preferred route option which involves building a new section of highway west of Singleton, starting near Newington Lane and rejoining the New England Highway north of McDougalls Hill.

This update provides more information about the preferred route option and next steps for the project.

BackgroundThe New England Highway forms part of the National Land Transport Network and is a major freight and commuter route between Newcastle and the Upper Hunter.

The highway passes through Singleton and forms the main road access through the town and to the town centre. More than 25,000 vehicles a day travel on the highway through Singleton and across the Hunter River.

Work on an options assessment to identify a preferred bypass route started in November 2014. Three shortlisted route options were placed on display for community feedback in late 2015.

This feedback, along with technical investigations and cost benefit analysis, has been used to select the preferred bypass route.

The technical investigations included flood modelling to help understand the potential flooding impact of each option.

More information about the options, as well as the investigations and studies carried out, is available in the preferred option report which can be viewed at www.rms.nsw.gov.au/projects

The preferred route corridor will be included in Singleton Council’s Local Environmental Plan, reserving the land for future construction of the bypass.

Timing for construction of the bypass has not been confirmed and would be subject to approval and funding availability.

The NSW Government has allocated $1.5 million in 2016–17 to progress planning.

BenefitsThe bypass would:

• Improve travel times for freight and general traffic along the New England Highway through Singleton

• Improve the Singleton town centre amenity

• Improve safety for all road users at this known pinch point

• Reduce heavy vehicle freight traffic through Singleton.

Preferred route option

Potential full interchange

Potential southbound entry ramp

Potential full interchange

Potential northbound exit ramp from New England Highway

Potential bridge with enough height clearance for farm vehicles

NEW ENGLAND HIGHWAY

NEW ENGLAND HIGHWAY

NEW ENGLAND HIGHWAYTO MUSWELLBROOK

MAIN

NO

RTHERN RAILW

AY LINE

HUNTER

RIVE

R

Magpie Street

RIXS C

REEK LA

NE

Waddells Lane

White Falls Lane

Newington Lane

JOH

N S

TREE

T

QUEEN STREET

Gowrie Gates

PU

TTY

RO

AD

MAISON DIEU ROAD

BRIDG

MAN

ROAD

ARM

Y CA

MP RO

AD

SINGLETON

SINGLETONHEIGHTS

McDOUGALLSHILL

HUNTERVIEW

Aerial photo: October 2011

Preferred route optionThe proposed bypass departs the New England Highway near Newington Lane, heads west over the Main Northern Railway and then across the floodplain, over Putty Road. It continues over the Hunter River, west of the town, before crossing the New England Highway west of Gowrie Gates and rejoining the highway north of McDougalls Hill. This route was referred to as Option B in the 2015 route option display.

The proposed bypass would include:

• Nine kilometres of new highway with a single lane in each direction and the possibility to upgrade to dual carriageway in the future

• A 3.1 kilometre bridge over the Main Northern Railway, Doughboy Hollow and Hunter River floodplains.

The strategic design is subject to change during concept design and additional investigations.

December 2016RMS 16.573

Privacy Roads and Maritime Services (“RMS”) is subject to the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998 (“PPIP Act”) which requires that we comply with the Information Privacy Principles set out in the PPIP Act. All information in correspondence is collected for the sole purpose of delivering this project. The information received, including names and addresses of respondents, may be published in subsequent documents unless a clear indication is given in the correspondence that all or part of that information is not to be published. Otherwise RMS will only disclose your personal information, without your consent, if authorised by the law. Your personal information will be held by RMS at Level 1, 59 Darby St, Newcastle 2300. You have the right to access and correct the information if you believe that it is incorrect.

Involving the communityWe will work with the community and stakeholders during the planning process to understand issues and minimise potential impact.

Opportunities to give further feedback will be provided at the concept design and environmental assessment stage.

What happens next?The preferred route corridor will be included in Singleton Council’s Local Environmental Plan, reserving the land for future construction of the bypass.

We will carry out consultation with affected landowners and key stakeholders, including Singleton Council. Subject to approval, the project would move to the concept design and environmental assessment stage.

Project development process

Community consultation

Display possible route options

Further investigations

Preferred route option announced

Land reserved in Singleton Council’s Local Environmental Plan

Business case

Concept design and environmental assessment*

Approval to proceed*

Detailed design*

Construction*

*Timing subject to approval and funding availability.

WE ARE HERE

Further informationMore information about the options, investigations and studies carried out is available in the preferred option report which can be viewed at rms.nsw.gov.au/projects

Phone: 1800 991 254

Email: singleton.bypass@rms.nsw.gov.au

Mail: Joel Rosendahl Project Manager Roads and Maritime Services Locked Bag 2030 Newcastle NSW 2300

Web: rms.nsw.gov.au/projects