John Hunter Roadworks Renew Calls To Expedite The Newcastle Inner City Bypass

BY JARROD MELMETH

Wallsend MP Sonia Hornery says while she welcomes traffic improvement measures at the John Hunter Hospital, only the construction of a second entrance and expedition of Stage 5 of the Newcastle Inner City Bypass will solve the major traffic issues.

The roadworks due to commence on Wednesday, July 18, will see the resurfacing of the road leading into the Hospital and down past the main entry. The works will also see the road alongside the front of the Hospital and main carparks turned into two way so that cars do not have to travel around the Hospital if leaving from the carpark near the Pathology Building.

Ms Hornery said while it won't stop the major congestion, it will hopefully ease some of the significant delays motorists experience.

"The solution is that we look at alternative roads being built as well. That means expediting the completion of the Newcastle Inner City Bypass from Jesmond to Rankin Park.

"It also means looking at how we can get commuters, staff, visitors and patients in the John Hunter Hospital off the road. This could be achieved through the re-installation of the free shuttle service that used to operate very successfully from Macdonald Jones Stadium.

"If the government were fair dinkum about easing congestion they would improve public transport so commuters from around the area can get to places like the John Hunter, the Mater and the University without being forced to drive because they have no alternative," Ms Hornery said.

The road travelling west at the John Hunter Hospital campus set to be
turned into two-way driving.

Night work continues on John Renshaw Drive bridge at Tarro

BY JARROD MELMETH

Motorists are being advised of changed traffic conditions between Tuesday 30 January and Thursday 1 February for maintenance work on John Renshaw Drive Bridge over the New England Highway.

Roads and Maritime Services are carrying out the works which, involves replacing one bridge joint and damaged sound walls.

Works will be carried out between 7pm and 6am to reduce the impact to motorists, while lane closures and a reduced 40km/h speed limit will remain in place during the three day period.

Motorists are advised that the works may affect travel times and to follow the direction of traffic control and signs and keep to the reduced speed limits.

The John Renshaw Drive bridge over the New England Highway at Tarro.

Roadworks ramping up in Newcastle

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Construction works in Newcastle are being taken up a gear with night work going through until Wednesday this week.

The work is underway on Watt Street between Chruch and Scott Streets with the removal of asphalt and then the laying of the new road surface to be done through the night.

The noisy removal of asphalt will stop at 11pm.

It's all in preparation for the Newcastle 500, and Supercars Australia says it will be short-term pain for long-term gain with the upgrades set to benefit the city well into the future.

Supercars Event Manager Kurt Sakzewski said some of the underground infrastructure which is being replaced is more than a century old.

In addition, driveway and footpath upgrade works will continue during the day and Supercars Australia says they'll notify affected residents and businesses in advance if any access changes occur.

Traffic troubles on Newcastle Road

BY IAN CROUCH

There are major delays for city-bound traffic on Newcastle Road at Lambton.

Workers undertaking roadworks overnight accidentally hit a water main.

A repair crew from Hunter Water is carrying out emergency work, which has closed one eastbound lane on Newcastle Road.

If all goes according to plan, they hope to have the problem fixed by around 9:30am.

The trees won't be gone for long!

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Don't be alarmed if you see trees disappearing in and around the Newcastle CBD, it's all in preparation for the Newcastle 500 in November.

Civil works are getting underway and there are around 170 trees set to be cut down, but they'll be replaced with 230 new trees which will mostly be of a mature age.

Among the civil works taking place is 170 new carparks around the foreshore, improved access to cycleways, widening of footpaths and in general greater access to the area not only for the race but for years to come.

"Normally the way works go they sort of roll out over a number of years so that's obviously a benefit to the community and the region not just in terms of the time spent doing it but also in the savings of the cost of doing the whole project as well," said Event Manager Kurt Sakzewski.

Instead of being years of work and disruption, the $18 million investment will be completed in just months.

"The net result will be that currently, you've got about 500m squared of shade in that area and once this program is fully rolled out that will increase to about 9,800m squared of shade. So for the people that go down and use the parklands on a regular basis obviously, that's going to be of great benefit to them," said Kurt Sakzewski. 

Image http://www.supercars.com/newcastle/circuit/

Tourle Street Bridge works

BY IAN CROUCH and JESSICA ROUSE

Motorists heading over the Tourle Street Bridge from Kooragang Island will be met with changed traffic conditions while work on the bridge duplication continues.

There are diversions in place with traffic heading along Cormorant Road from Egret Street being diverted onto a newly built section of road to allow work to be carried out on the existing road.

From Monday if you're travelling along Tourle Street you'll be diverted onto a new section of road as well.

The $103 million bridge and road duplication is due for completion by late 2018.