WORKS have started to alleviate a major pinch point on Tamworth’s roads, but it may be a few months before the congestion gets better.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
On Tuesday morning, Tamworth Regional Council (TRC) started 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.
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
- TRC regional services director Peter Resch
The work between Tribe and Jewry Sts will see the Manilla Rd widened to four lanes in a move designed to ease congestion on the major access route, according to council.
The work will 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.
The changes will provide extra capacity to handle traffic heading north, particularly for busy drop-off times at William Cowper Anglican School and McCarthy Catholic Colege, while allowing traffic to keep flowing, Mr Resch said.
“In the AM peak, travelling south, traffic will be able to the flow directly on the highway and we’ll have two lanes south all the way into the city,” he said
Mr Resch said the aim was to complete as much of work as possible while there was a lull in traffic due to school holidays.
Tamworth MP Kevin Anderson said that he welcome the start of the Manilla Rd works.
He said it was the beginning of a three-stage program
“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.”