Work starts on $45 million safety upgrade at Dignams Creek

Mr Constance said the NSW Government is funding the $45 million upgrade and has provided $15 million this financial year to start work.  

“This section of highway is steep and winding in sections and has a history of crashes involving vehicles leaving the road,” Mr Constance said.

“This upgrade will remove a number of tight bends and flatten out steep sections of the road to improve safety and travel times for all road users.

“More than two kilometres of new highway will be built to modern standards and close to a kilometre of the existing highway will also be upgraded.

“A key feature of the upgrade is a new 91-metre-long bridge across Dignams Creek.”

Mr Constance said Roads and Maritime Services finalised the detailed design for the project last year and awarded the contract to build the upgrade to York Civil Pty Ltd.

“The upgrade will provide significant benefits to the local community and to motorists travelling this section of road,” Mr Constance said.

“I am so very pleased to see work finally starting on this section of road, it has claimed too many lives and I have been passionate about seeing it improved for the safety of motorists.

“As well as providing a new modern highway, the intersection of the Princes Highway and Dignams Creek will be relocated and includes a highway underpass and provision for bus stops.

“The existing southbound overtaking lane will also be upgraded.

“Work activities to be carried out in the next few months include establishing the site compound, relocating utilities, vegetation clearing, building sediment basins and building a new temporary road for traffic to be diverted as building work progresses.”

Mr Constance said the upgrade will take around two years to build and is expected to be complete by mid-2019, weather permitting.

The community will be informed of any changes to traffic conditions as work progresses.