More than four years after former Premier, Mike Baird announced funding to complete the final stage of the Newcastle Inner City Bypass between Rankin Park and Jesmond, an announcement is expected this afternoon just over three weeks out from the state election.
Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter, Scot Macdonald has called a media conference at Jesmond at 2pm with Liberal candidates for Wallsend and Newcastle, Nick Trappett and Blake Keating to announce the Environmental Impact Statement for the long-awaited missing link has been approved.
The announcement should clear the way for the final approval of the project.
The so-called missing link has been dogged with delays since Mike Baird announced a further $150 million in June 2014 towards the $280 million final stage, with work to have started in 2017.
One of the biggest issues has been the design of the interchange linking the bypass to John Hunter Hospital. Initial designs and recommendations from Roads and Maritime Services suggested only a half interchange was needed due to projected traffic flows, however Hunter New England Health and members of the community successfully lobbied for a full interchange to be built. This prompted the need for a new Environmental Impact Statement
It's hoped the approval of the EIS will fast-track a construction date.
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| The Half Interchange Originally Proposed For The Newcastle Inner City Bypass |
