It has today been confirmed that Cessnock City Council will receive $4.45 million in funding as part of the state government's 'Fixing Country Roads' program.
Cessnock councillors today attended state parliament to talk with Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight, Melinda Pavey, where the Minister confirmed the $4.45 million figure.
Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter, Scot MacDonald, has welcomed the news, saying the funding will be used to upgrade Frame Drive at Abermain into an 11-metre carriageway stretching from the intersection of Gingers Lane to Orange Street.
The work, part of a larger plan eventually connecting Cessnock directly to the Hunter Expressway,
will complement the new concrete bridge which replaced the former single-lane timber construction on Frame Drive.
It is understood that Cessnock Council has been lobbying for the improvements for two years.
"You can probably say [residents have been waiting for these improvements] since the Hunter Expressway was completed a few years ago," Scot MacDonald says, "people have been using the Expressway to get to and from work and school, it's been very busy...
"I've first had representation from Cessnock City Council about two years ago, but they have put together a good plan and a good design; they've been working with RMS...So I'm very pleased they've been able to find the money under 'Fixing Country Roads.'"
So far, the state government has awarded $90 million worth of funding towards 138 road projects across regional NSW under the scheme.
Scot MacDonald believes the upgrade to Frame Drive will begin almost immediately.
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| Parliamentary Secretary, Scot MacDonald. |
