After years of delays and rescheduling, it appears the Muswellbrook Bypass is again an election carrot, with the Federal Government announcing they are bringing forward their funding so that construction can begin.
The bypass will divert the New England Highway to the east of Muswellbrook, removing heavy traffic from the town centre and providing uninterrupted travel at highway speeds.
Muswellbrook’s bypass has been on the drawing board for three decades, with former Member for Hunter, Joel Fitzgibbon, noting in 2005 that the bypass had been discussed since before the 1996 federal election. A November 2000 press release detailed three options for the bypass route, along with an initial costing of $35m (around $65m today). Barnaby Joyce, then Deputy Prime Minister, said it was ‘locked in’ in 2022. In 2023, Upper Hunter Nationals MP Dave Layzell urged Federal Minister Catherine King to end delays and fund the construction of the bypass, which had been ‘reviewed’ after the change of government.
King did not acknowledge her own hand in the delay for the project in her announcement today, rather asserting they were delivering it sooner.
“We’re accelerating this funding so construction can start ahead of schedule. Alongside our planning work for a future Cessnock Bypass, the Albanese Government’s investment will mean trips across the Hunter will be quicker and safer, sooner.”
“Fast-tracking this work in Muswellbrook is a big win for motorists and truck drivers in the Hunter, but also for residents who will see a significant reduction of vehicles through their local roads,” King said.
“The Muswellbrook Bypass is a game-changer for our community,” Federal Member for Hunter and current federal representative for the people of Muswellbrook, Dan Repacholi said.
“Not only will it ease congestion and improve travel times, but the construction phase will bring hundreds of jobs to the region, supporting local businesses and boosting our economy.”
“The Muswellbrook Bypass will help make our town a more inviting place for locals and visitors to stop, shop, and enjoy everything our town has to offer,” he said.
Muswellbrook has been redistributed to the New England at this forthcoming election, meaning it will have a new representative regardless of the result.
Labor Candidate for New England, Laura Hughes, has welcomed the decision to bring forward the $304.8 million investment in the Muswellbrook Bypass, allowing construction to begin ahead of schedule.
“The Muswellbrook Bypass will be a game-changer for our community, taking heavy traffic out of the town centre and making our roads safer and more efficient,” Hughes said.
Hughes also said that the bypass, once completed, could be a significant relief for the town, where up to 20,000 vehicles, including 13% heavy trucks, pass through daily.
For Hughes, the bypass isn’t just about improving travel times, but also about the hope that it will support long-term economic growth and provide much-needed relief to a town that has long been promised better infrastructure.
“This investment is fantastic news for Muswellbrook and the entire New England electorate,” Hughes said.
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