The Mitchell Highway in New South Wales is sealed for its 707 kilometre length. The Mitchell Highway from Stewart Street Bathurst to Dubbo forms part of the National Land Transport Network. From Dubbo to Barringun, on the Queensland border, the Mitchell Highway is part of the State Road network.

A section of the Mitchell Highway from North Bourke to Barringun is the only highway in NSW to be open for use by triple road trains.

Roads and Maritime Services manages the highway with funding from the NSW and Australian governments for road works and maintenance. Between Bathurst and Orange the Mitchell Highway is generally three lanes with alternating overtaking opportunities.  The rest of the highway is generally a two lane road with infrequent formal overtaking opportunities.

The highway is important to communities living in Bathurst, Orange, Molong, Wellington, Dubbo, Nevertire, Narromine, Nyngan, Coolabah, Byrock, Bourke, Enngonia and Barringun. It is an important route for freight and livestock transporters, tourism operators, caravanners and holiday makers.

Road improvements completed in 2012

Upgrade on Mitchell Highway near Dubbo Airport

The NSW Government provided $825,000 to widen and improve the Mitchell Highway about three kilometres west of Dubbo.

This work improved an 800 metre section of the highway near Cooreena Road, the road to Dubbo City Regional Airport.

This project involved removing the existing road surface and replacing it with a new asphalt overlay. The section was also widened to include two metre sealed shoulders.

As part of this work, 14 trees were removed to allow for drainage and improve the clear zone. Trees to replace the ones removed have been planted outside the clear zone.

Intersection upgrade at Larras Lee

The Mitchell Highway intersection upgrade at Larras Lee about 11 kilometres north of Molong was a $475,000 project to improve road safety for motorists turning into Larras Lee and was funded through the Road Toll Response Package.

The intersection was upgraded to include a left turn lane for northbound highway traffic turning into Larras Lee Road. The road shoulder of the southbound lane was also widened to allow traffic to safely pass vehicles waiting to turn right into Larras Lee Road.

Improvements east of Trangie

The NSW Government provided $2.1 million to improve the Mitchell Highway near Brigendoon, east of Trangie.

The project included extending the shoulders to two metres and sealing seven kilometres of the highway. The wider shoulders improved the safety of the highway for all road users. A new layer of gravel was added and the road sealed to improve the road surface along this stretch of the highway.

Safety improvements at Goanna Hill on Mitchell Highway

The Federal Government provided $1.3 million under the Federal Government Nation Building Blackspot Program to increase safety over an 8.5 kilometre length of the Mitchell Highway, between Molong and Orange. Work was carried out at various locations between Strathmore Lane and Amaroo Road intersections.

Work included realignment on one curve, shoulder widening and removing trees to improve the clear zone, installing a protected right turn to Strathmore Lane, extending the wire rope safety barrier and installing intersection signs. The intersection upgrade at Strathmore Lane was in response to a community request to provide a dedicated lane for motorists turning right.

The work has improved road safety by reducing the number and severity of crashes, as well as improving the road surface and drainage.