More than four years after former Premier Mike Baird announced funding for the fifth and final stage of the Newcastle Inner City Bypass, it's been revealed today the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the project has been approved.
The Department of Planning and Environment received 173 submissions after the EIS was exhibited in late 2016, with residents highlighting issues with the Jesmond Park shared path, noise and vibration during construction, the hospital interchange and pedestrian access.
The Department's final assessment means construction will be subject to a few conditions including the preparation of a Construction Environmental Management Plan, but Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot Macdonald said the approval means construction planning can finally get underway.
"One of the very, very important things was that we got confirmation of the dual access ramps in and out of John Hunter Hospital, going north and south,"
"So it's an important step and the NSW Liberal government will be announcing in the not too distant future the next steps of construction."
According to Scot Macdonald, Roads and Maritime Services has advised work could begin on the project by the end of this year.
The 3.4km bypass between Rankin Park and Jesmond is expected to help motorists avoid up to 11 sets of traffic lights on the existing route and will help speed up travel during morning and afternoon peaks.
Maitland residents will also be set to benefit from another announcement made today, with $1.5 million dollars to be invested in traffic management improvements for the Cessnock Road and Church Street roundabout.
Work will begin in April to install traffic lights on the eastbound entrance and widen Cessnock Road.
During peak hours the lights will be triggered by traffic queue detectors which will be installed on the New England Highway westbound approach.
Local roads were high on the agenda today, with Scot Macdonald also joined at Beresfield by Wallsend Liberal candidate Nick Trappett for an inspection of the newly upgraded intersection of Weakleys Drive and John Renshaw Drive.
Work started just over a year ago to replace the roundabout with a new set of traffic lights which are already operating as the final touches are made to the site.
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| Blake Keating, Scot Macdonald and Nick Trappett |
