The Federal Government has invited industry partners to submit registrations of interest for a design and construct tender as part of the first stage of the Barton Highway upgrade.
The Barton Highway is a critical link connecting communities on the Southern Tablelands in NSW and the ACT. The project requires upgrading the existing highway and building additional capacity from the NSW/ACT border towards Murrumbateman in NSW.
The Review of Environmental Factors (REF) will be finalised in the coming months and planning is also continuing for the duplication of the remaining sections of the Barton Highway, which includes intersection upgrades at Gooda Creek Road and Vallencia Drive.
Upcoming work also includes the delivery of $3.25 million investment in intelligent transport systems which will improve trip reliability and help better manage and reduce traffic incidents.
Permanent variable message signs, with fog detection systems, real travel time capabilities and closed circuit television monitoring will be installed at the northern and southern approaches of the Barton Highway.
The Federal and NSW Governments are each providing $50 million over four years, with the Australian Government also committing an additional $100 million under the Roads of Strategic Importance initiative in the 2018-19 Budget.
Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, Michael McCormack, said the upgrade will significantly improve safety as well as journey reliability, ease congestion and boost freight productivity.
“The Barton Highway upgrade demonstrates our commitment to building for the future. We’re investing now so that the community can have confidence that they will have the infrastructure we need to support a growing economy,” Mr McCormack said.
NSW Minister for Regional Transport and Roads, Paul Toole, called on industry to put forward innovative solutions that would maximise the length of road able to be duplicated under the program.
“We are encouraging industry to be innovative to achieve the greatest distance of duplicated highway and deliver value for money while ensuring a focus on safety,” Mr Toole said.
“We also want to make sure that there are opportunities for the local workforce from communities along the length of the duplication to participate, to provide employment during tough drought times, so we’ll be looking to partners that can provide that.
“The community has been waiting for this, industry has been waiting for this, so we’re excited to be able to take the next step forward.”
Senator for ACT, Zed Seselja, said a duplicated highway will provide significant road safety benefits and more reliable journeys for the growing number of road users between Canberra and the Yass Valley, contributing to regional growth and increased freight efficiency along this strategic link.
“The registration of interest is the first stage of the contract procurement process for the work, with the request for tender currently planned for early 2020,” Senator Seselja said.
More information about this project is available here.
