Hunter region

Muswellbrook bypass

Background

The New England Highway is part of the National Land Transport Network in NSW.

In 1998 the Roads and Maritime Services (formerly Roads and Traffic Authority) carried out a route selection study for a proposed bypass of Muswellbrook. Three options were displayed from December 2000 to February 2001. These options are no longer viable largely due to mining activities in the area.

The Australian Government has selected a preferred option for the route.

The preferred route corridor has been included in Muswellbrook Shire Council's Local Environment Plan (LEP) and preserved for the future bypass.

You can view or download a map of the proposal by clicking here.

Local constraints

Only one viable option has been identified due to the significant constraints in the area, including:

  • Coal mining activities.
  • Council landfill.
  • Residential development.
  • Local geography.

The proposal

The proposed route bypasses Muswellbrook to the east. It would be a single carriageway, 8.8 km in length and comprise:

  • Grade separated interchanges at the southern and northern connections with the New England Highway.
  • A grade separated interchange at Coal Road.
  • An off ramp to Sandy Creek Road for motorists travelling north on the bypass.
  • An on ramp from Sandy Creek Road for motorists travelling south on the bypass.
  • Two bridge crossings of the Main Northern Railway.
  • Overtaking lanes in both directions.

Benefits of a bypass

The bypass would have significant benefits including:

  • Removing conflicts between local traffic and through traffic in the Muswellbrook town centre.
  • Removing heavy vehicle through traffic away from the town centre and adjacent residential areas.
  • Providing an opportunity to develop a more pedestrian friendly environment in Muswellbrook's main street.
  • Improving residential amenity by reducing traffic noise levels in the town.
  • Improving travel times for through traffic on the New England Highway – higher travel speeds and shorter travel distance (8.8km at 100km/h on the bypass as opposed to the current slower 10.5km route through Muswellbrook).

What happens next?

Funding has been for planning only.

Development of the concept design and an environmental impact assessment will be undertaken when the timing of construction is decided.

Further information

Please phone the project manager Matthew Mate on 131 782 (during office hours).

You can also write to: