Work begins on $35m Hillsborough Road upgrade

newy.com.au – Major construction has begun on the $35 million first stage of the Hillsborough Road upgrade in Lake Macquarie, starting a major overhaul of one of the city’s busiest transport corridors.

The Minns Labor Government project will upgrade the Crockett Street intersection, install new traffic lights and duplicate 700 metres of Hillsborough Road. About 36,000 motorists use the corridor each day, with the road known for heavy congestion during peak periods and difficult turning movements from side streets.

Stage one is the first step in a broader NSW Government plan to upgrade the full 1.8-kilometre stretch of Hillsborough Road, from the Newcastle Inner City Bypass roundabout to the existing duplication west of Crockett Street. Construction is expected to take 18 months to complete, subject to weather.

Daracon Contractors Pty Ltd has been awarded the contract to deliver the first stage and has been establishing the site since mid-April. Work will generally be carried out from 7am to 6pm on weekdays and from 7am to 1pm on Saturdays, as required. Some work will need to take place between 7pm and 5am to reduce impacts on traffic during peak times.

The project follows community consultation undertaken in 2022, with further investigations and utility work completed in 2024 ahead of construction.

Minister for the Hunter Yasmin Catley said the upgrade would deliver safer roads for the region.

“Anyone who drives Hillsborough Road knows the challenges of stop-start traffic and hard merges.

“Our $35 million investment means Hunter families will spend less time in traffic and more time with their loved ones.”

Minister for Roads Jenny Aitchison said Hillsborough Road was well known by the community as a difficult stretch of road.

“This upgrade is about easing that pressure for motorists and making daily trips safer, smoother and less stressful. It’s great to see work now underway, with the community set to benefit from these improvements for years to come.”

Member for Charlestown Jodie Harrison said the start of major work was the first step in easing congestion at a well-known bottleneck, while Independent Member for Lake Macquarie Greg Piper said the road was a critical route for thousands of local motorists each day.

Project updates are available at nswroads.work/hillsboroughroad.