The New England Highway between Rutherford and Telarah

The Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) is planning safety and traffic flow improvements on the New England Highway between Johnson Street, Telarah and Wollombi Road, Rutherford as part of road resurfacing works between Johnson Street and 120 metres west of Melbee Street.

Background

In October 2006, the RTA issued a community update outlining proposed safety and traffic improvements on the New England Highway between Johnson Street, Telarah and Wollombi Road, Rutherford as part of road resurfacing works from Johnson Street to west of Melbee Street. 

Comments were invited on the proposal, and in response to the community feedback received, the proposal has been revised.

Features

The revised proposal includes the following new features:

• South Street from the highway for vehicles accessing Telarah.
• Provision of right turn bays for eastbound vehicles turning right from the highway at Young Street, John Street and Johnson Street.
• Provision of right turn bays for westbound vehicles turning right from the highway at Fourth Avenue and Walter Street.
• Provision of a short storage bay in the central median for vehicles turning right from John Street and Young Street, onto the highway.
• No right hand turn for westbound vehicles from the highway into John Street.  A new right hand bay will be provided at Walter Street.

The following features have been retained from the original proposal:

• Provision of a painted central median to separate oncoming traffic between Johnson Street Telarah and Wollombi, Road Rutherford.
• Turning at Verge Street will be restricted to left in and left out only because of limited sight distance.
• No right turn from Johnson Street onto the highway with right turn available via the High Street roundabout.
• Removal of on road parking between Johnson Street and Wollombi Road with the exception of parking in the vicinity of Brooks Street on the westbound side, to allow provision of safer right turn facilities at Young Street, Fourth Avenue, Walter Street, John Street, and Johnson Street.
• Restricting turning at Brooks Street to left in and left out only on the north side of the highway, because of limited sight distance.
• Retention of the right turn onto the highway from Young Street, Parkes Street, South Street, Walter Street and John Street, on the southern side of the highway.
• Retention of existing bus stops along the highway.
• Retention of the right turn onto the highway from Fourth Avenue, Walter Street and John Street, on the northern side of the highway.
• Retention of the existing traffic signals on the New England Highway.

Benefits

The proposed works on this section of road will provide:

• Improved traffic flow.
• Improved safety for motorists.

A plan of the proposed works is available to view or download from the box at the bottom of this page.

For more information phone the project manager, Ken Saxby on (02) 4924 0260 or email ken_saxby@rta.nsw.gov.au.