A multi-million dollar upgrade to a stretch of the Oxley Highway will improve the safety of the road in a move that shows “we have listened”, according to the state’s road minister.
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The $50 million election promise will go towards delivering a better road surface and additional overtaking lanes on the key link between the coast and the state’s North West.
Minister for Roads and Freight Duncan Gay and Parliamentary Secretary for Roads and Tamworth MP Kevin Anderson inspected work on the $1.7 million extension of an existing westbound overtaking lane, 29 kilomtres east of Gunnedah near Rushes Creek Road on Monday.
“The communities along the length of the Oxley Highway have made it clear they want more overtaking lanes and improvement works along its length, and have been calling for these upgrades for years,” Mr Gay said. “We have listened and we are delivering what these communities expect and deserve – with a number of projects now under way or currently in planning.”
Mr Anderson said this stretch of highway was notoriously dangerous and these upgrades were vital for the people and businesses that use this road to link Tamworth with the North West.
“Ramping up the upgrade of the Oxley Highway was an election commitment of mine so it’s great to see work progressing,” he said. “Plans are also being developed to build a new eastbound overtaking lane about 24km east of Gunnedah with work expected to start in the first half of 2017.”