Project overview

The NSW Government has allocated $4 million in the 2012/2013 to continue planning for the future upgrade of a section of the Great Western Highway at Kelso. Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) is managing the upgrade.

The 2.4 kilometre project will extend from just west of Stockland Drive intersection to just east of Ashworth Drive near the Gold Panner Motor Inn. The project will widen the highway to four lanes, improve intersections and separate opposing directions of traffic.

Review of environmental factors

RMS has finalised the environmental impact assessment, called a review of environmental factors (REF) and determined to proceed with the project. A submissions report addressesing the issues raised by community members during the REF display is available for your information.

The REF and the submissions report are available on the REF documents page.

What is happening now?

RMS has established an Alliance team to undertake the detailed design for the Kelso project. The Alliance team comprises RMS, and engineering consulting companies Sinclair Knight Mertz and Parsons Brinckerhoff. The detailed design phase started in April 2012 and will continue through to June 2013.

Site investigations and meetings with residents, businesses and other stakeholders started in August 2012.

In August 2012, a survey to locate services such as drainage pits and channels, pipes and sewer locations, potholing on roadsides to locate underground utilities and services was completed.

In September 2012, geotechnical drilling and digging test pits to gather information for the road pavement and bridge design was completed with minimal traffic delays.

The first round of meetings with property owners, businesses and stakeholders, to discuss property acquisition and property adjustments is now complete. Property adjustments are about changes at the front boundary of properties to connect the driveway with the new road and footpath levels. In addition, some land is required from the front of properties for the road widening.

Stakeholder meetings are now being planned for early 2013 where the team will provide an update on the road design and project progress.

RMS would like to thank everyone for their cooperation and input as the project progresses.