New lane extension planned at southern end of Newcastle Inner City Bypass project

newy.com.au – Transport for NSW says work on the Rankin Park to Jesmond section of the Newcastle Inner City Bypass is progressing, with more activity expected at the southern end in coming weeks as crews prepare the project for opening to traffic.

In a review of traffic connections to the bypass, the agency said it had identified an opportunity to improve traffic flow and reduce congestion at the southern extent of the project, including continuing three lanes southbound on Lookout and Charlestown roads between Grandview Road and Carnley Avenue before the bypass opens.

“By extending the third lane, we are ensuring better journeys for the thousands of motorists who will use the bypass each day, reducing congestion and traffic times,” a Transport for NSW spokesperson said. “This work will seek to enhance the interface between the project and surrounding network as we continue work on completing the Newcastle Inner City Bypass.”

The spokesperson said it was “great to see this section of the Newcastle Inner City Bypass come to life”, adding that “once complete, this project will alleviate a congestion headache for so many road users by avoiding up to 11 sets of traffic lights along the existing route”.

Transport for NSW said the NSW Government-funded work would be carried out alongside other projects in the area where possible to reduce community impacts, including planned work to improve traffic control signals at the intersection of Cardiff, Lookout and Charlestown roads, as well as ongoing maintenance.

Residents and motorists have been encouraged to check work details and traffic movements through the project portal at https://caportal.com.au/tfnsw/rankin-park-to-jesmond

Transport for NSW said it was now targeting a revised completion date of early to mid-2026 for the Rankin Park to Jesmond section, after “unprecedented rainfall”.

Join the discussion on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1E23RoP4No/