The F3 to Branxton link

On behalf of the Australian and New South Wales governments, the Roads and Traffic Authority proposes to construct a highway link between the F3 Freeway and Branxton.

The project is called the F3 to Branxton link and is included in the Australian Government’s AusLink National Land Transport Plan. The F3 to Branxton link will provide about 40 km of dual divided carriageway between the F3 Freeway at Seahampton and the New England Highway west of Branxton.

Interchanges will be located at the F3 Freeway, Buchanan, Kurri Kurri, Loxford, Allandale and Branxton.

The speed limit will be 110 km/h.

Benefits of the link

• The link will improve the efficiency of the AusLink National Network between Sydney, Newcastle and Brisbane.
• The link will create a high standard road for the Lower Hunter that will relieve congestion on the New England Highway and provide an east-west connection between the Newcastle regional centre and urban centres in the Lower Hunter.
• The link will provide a more direct and efficient route for the movement of freight between the Upper Hunter and the Port of Newcastle.
• The NSW Government’s Lower Hunter Regional Strategy shows that the F3 to Branxton link will assist in the movement of freight from the north west of NSW and the movement of people to and from the Upper Hunter.
• Construction of the link is subject to timing of Australian Government funding.

Design changes

The F3 to Branxton link was approved in 2001.

The conditions of approval required the RTA to reduce the ecological impact of the link. To meet these conditions, the RTA modified the design to reduce clearing of native vegetation, including endangered ecological communities.

The RTA has prepared reports that describe the design changes and assess their likely environmental impact. Additional information is provided in the 2007 Community Update.

Modification to the 2001 planning approval

On the 19 August 2007 the NSW Minister for Planning approved a modification to the the 2001 approval to incorporate the following design changes:

• Realignment of the route through the Sugarloaf Range with three major bridge crossings of deep gullies. This removed the previous condition for the construction of a fauna overpass near Stockrington Road.
• The closure of Stanford Road, Stanford Merthyr on both sides of the link to reduce clearing of Kurri Sand Swamp Woodland.
• The construction of a new interchange at Branxton that will divert traffic onto the link that would have travelled through Branxton on the New England Highway. This will reduce road traffic noise in Branxton and provide a safer and quieter community.
•  Water quality controls and fences may be placed in areas containing threatened species habitat or endangered ecological communities provided the maximum native vegetation clearing limit is not exceeded.
• The total area of native vegetation that would be cleared for the F3 to Branxton link must not exceed 182 hectares.

For more information

The RTA has prepared documents (see the links below) that provide detailed information about the modification to the F3 to Branxton link. If you require more information, please contact the RTA on 131-RTA (131 782) or email Allan_Bowditch@rta.nsw.gov.au.