ATA NSW welcomes government commitment to roads

Through the Budget, the Government allocated $4.7 billion for road improvements and upgrades, including $2.2 billion to build new roads; $1 billion for maintenance of the state’s existing roads; $336 million in improvements to the traffic network; and $871 million for the Pacific Highway.
ATA NSW manager, Jill Lewis said the Government’s investment in roads is an essential component in ensuring the trucking industry can meet the State’s growing freight task.
“The trucking industry already carries 75 per cent of all goods in NSW, including every item in every supermarket across the State,” Lewis said.
“With the State’s freight task set to double in the next 20 years, it’s vitally important the Government invests in road infrastructure now, to ensure we can meet the growing demand in the years to come.
“This record level of investment in our roads by the State Government shows they are aware of the essential role that trucking plays to the NSW economy and are committed to ensuring we can continue to meet the demands of consumers across the state.”
Lewis urged the Government to ensure that all projects announced in the Budget are designed and constructed using the latest safety systems.
“It’s important that when the Government is planning these projects, they ensure the roads are constructed to be as safe as possible for all road users,” Lewis said.
“This includes optimising the use of divided roads (the gold standard in road design) and, most importantly, ensuring there are enough heavy vehicle rest areas to make sure our drivers can meet the fatigue regulations they are required to follow.
“The trucking industry is committed to improving safety and we see this massive investment in better, safer roads by the Government as going a long way to making sure that all road users make it home safely.”

Major infrastructure projects due for completion in the coming year include:
. $46 million to complete construction of the Inner West Busway along Victoria Road;
. $24 million to complete construction, funded by the Federal Government, of the Alstonville bypass on the Bruxner Highway;
. $22 million to complete construction of the final stage of the upgrade of Hoxton Park Road and Cowpasture Road;
. $20 million to complete construction of the widening to four lanes of the northern approach to Alfords Point Bridge including a new bridge over Henry Lawson Drive;
. $12.5 million to complete construction of stage 2 of the Bangor Bypass, providing four lanes between Marsden Road and New Illawarra Road;
. $12 million to complete construction of the third crossing of the Hunter River at Maitland;
. $12 million to complete construction of the Central Coast Highway and Woy Woy Road intersection upgrade at Kariong;
. $12 million to complete construction of the widening of Avoca Drive to four lanes between Sun Valley Road and Bayside Drive at Green Point;
. $10 million to complete construction of the final stage of the four lane upgrade of Cowpasture Road;
. $6.7 million jointly funded with the Australian Government to complete improvements to the Kings Highway between Queanbeyan and Bungendore.
Additionally, $827 million (jointly funded with the Australian Government) will be invested in the Pacific Highway upgrade.
Also, $345 million (jointly funded with the Australian Government) has been committed to continue duplication of the Hume Highway between Sydney and Melbourne.