WORKS are getting started to alleviate a major pinch point on Tamworth’s roads, but it may be a few months before it gets better.
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On Tuesday morning, Tamworth Regional Council (TRC) will be widening Manilla Rd between Tribe and Jewry streets; a project expected to take at least three months.
TRC regional services director Peter Resch said traffic on the highway “will be kept flowing” but expects inconveniences to commuters.
“There will be minor inconvenience to the travelling public while we do this work and at all stages, but we’ll try and keep traffic flowing as best we can,” Mr Resch said.
The work in between Tribe and Jewry streets will see the Manilla Rd widened to four lanes, in a move to ease congestion on the major road, according to council.
A major road project in itself, the works also involve the removal of several old, silky oak trees and a culvert extension on both sides of road at the Tribe St end of the Northgate shopping centre.
Mr Resch anticipates the works will significantly ease congestion on the notorious road.
“The traffic going north, particularly traffic that’s going to William Cowper and McCarthy, there’ll be additional storage and the traffic will flow freer and it won’t hold up traffic going north on the highway,” he said.
“In the a.m peak, travelling south, traffic will be able to the flow directly on the highway and we’ll two lanes south all the way into the city.”
Mr Resch hoped as much work as possible could be completed while there was a lull in traffic with school holidays.
Tamworth MP Kevin Anderson welcomed the commencement of the Manilla Rd works, which is just the beginning of a three-stage program, according to the state MP.
“So we widen the road here and allow traffic to flow freely, it is a dog’s breakfast at school times, when we’ve got cars coming and going, as well as buses,” Mr Anderson said.
“We then move to a roundabout further down and then we look at the upgrade and duplication of the Jewry St Bridge.”