A RECOMMENDED option has been announced for Gunnedah’s second rail overpass.
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Minister for Roads and Freight Duncan Gay and Member for Tamworth Kevin Anderson on Tuesday announced Option C as the recommended route, with a new roundabout for Conadilly Street and access to Barber Street.
Gunnedah mayor Owen Hasler confirmed some land would need to be bought to progress the plan.
Mr Anderson said he hoped the plan would be signed off by the end of September, and work would be under way by Christmas.
He said following extensive community consultation, the NSW government had refined the plans to Option C, which now included access to Barber Street from the overpass.
“The community is invited to further comment on a refined Option C as Roads
and Maritime Services moves toward the concept design stage of the project,” Mr Anderson said. “The recommended option is west of the Gunnedah Maize Mill and would connect the Oxley Highway roundabout with a new roundabout at the intersection of Conadilly and Warrabungle streets.
“Feedback from the community, Gunnedah Shire Council, Australian Rail Track Corporation and Transport for NSW, as well as technical, environmental and social factors were considered when developing the recommended option.”
The existing New Street level crossing will be closed, but access to Barber Street will be maintained.
Community drop-in sessions will be held at Gunnedah Town Hall on Wednesday, August 27 from 4pm to 7pm, and Thursday, August 28 from 9am to 12 noon.
The project team are also available this week at AgQuip.
Consultation on the recommended option will close at 5pm on Friday, September 12.
This year’s state budget included $800,000 in planning money for the overpass.
There were also assurances that about $20 million had been set aside for the project when the design phase was complete.
Gunnedah Shire mayor Owen Hasler has said estimates for the project have been put at between $25 and $27 million.
Mr Anderson said in June the second rail overpass was vital for Gunnedah because longer coal trains meant longer waits at crossings and had implications for emergency services.
Minister for Roads and Freight Duncan Gay said today’s announcement was an example of the NSW government providing more efficient ways of moving freight around the state as part of Bridges for the Bush program.
“The Gunnedah overpass is one of 17 key locations in country NSW we are committed to improving the state’s freight movement by upgrading and replacing bridges over the next five years,” Mr Gay said.
Council’s director of planning and development Michael Silver said the rail overpass and highway reconfiguration would mean “significant commercial benefits” for the business community.
Mr Silver said council would undertake a commercial planning strategy review to evaluate business opportunities in the western section of Railway Avenue, Barber Street and Conadilly Street.
The project’s Recommended Option Report is available online at www.rms.nsw.gov.au/roadprojects.
Cr Hasler encouraged Gunnedah people to review the report and ensure they were well informed.
For more information or to comment, contact the project team on the toll free number 1800 029 585 or email secondroadoverrailbridge@kbr.com