First traffic switched onto new Singleton Bypass section as opening nears

newy.com.au – Hunter motorists are using the first small section of the future Singleton Bypass from today, with traffic switched onto a newly built stretch of road on the project’s Southern Connection.

The latest traffic change is between White Falls Lane and just past Newington Lane and is one of several staged switches planned before the bypass opens later this year. At the southern connection, motorists leaving Singleton on the New England Highway are now using a newly built southbound on-ramp, while northbound traffic is being diverted onto an off-ramp passing beneath one of the project’s new bridges.

Vehicles on the New England Highway will travel about one kilometre in each direction on newly built ramps as part of the bypass project.

The $700 million bypass is being funded through a $560 million contribution from the Albanese Government and $140 million from the Minns Government. Once complete, the eight-kilometre route will run from near Newington Lane in the south to just past Magpie Street in the north, with a full interchange at Putty Road and connections to the New England Highway at the southern and northern ends at Gowrie.

The project is expected to remove up to 15,000 vehicles a day from Singleton’s main street, cut travel times and allow motorists to avoid five sets of traffic lights.

Major work has already been completed across the corridor, with all six bridges nearing completion, including the 1.6-kilometre structure across the Hunter Floodplain, while crews continue work on pavements, interchanges and final construction.

Federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine King said: “This is progress motorists will be able to see and feel, as traffic moves onto the first small section of the Singleton Bypass.”

NSW Minister for the Hunter Yasmin Catley said: “This is great news for Singleton and the Hunter.”

NSW Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison said: “It’s fantastic to see the Singleton Bypass powering forward with the first traffic switch today.”

Member for Hunter Dan Repacholi said the project would improve daily travel for locals. “This is exactly the kind of investment our region needs – getting heavy traffic out of Singleton and making everyday trips quicker and safer for locals,” he said.