Riverina roads are set to get a big upgrade with the state budget allocating $35.55 million in funding for the next financial year.
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Gocup Road between Tumut and Gundagai will get the lion’s share of the funding: $22.8 million will be put toward the $70 million upgrade, while Grong Grong will see $7 million for a realignment of the Newell Highway and West Wyalong will get $5.75 million toward a heavy vehicle bypass.
The continuing upgrade of Gocup Road will be welcome news for both the Gundagai abattoir and Tumut’s Visy plant, both of which have expansion plans in the works.
Snowy Valleys Council acting general manager Kay Whitehead said the upgrade could potentially see “A-double” trucks, another size up from the more common B-doubles, on the road.
“It’s great to see the state government getting stuck into (the project),” Mrs Whitehead said.
“It’s been a huge priority over the past few years and it’s great to see how much it’s coming forward.
“The safety of the road has been questioned in the past… this is a major route and it’s critical we’ve got good, safe road links.”
Wagga truck driver Peter Dawson said Gocup Road had a bit of a bad reputation and he welcomed the government’s splurge on the region’s highways.
“The amount of road freight is increasing all the time, so any improvement is a good thing for safety,” he said.
“There are bits of Gocup Road where people have had trouble in the past, trucks getting stuck in some areas.
“But even one less pothole on the road would be a really good thing.”
Snowy Valleys Council administrator Paul Sullivan said the upgrade of the Tumut to Gundagai link would have benefits beyond the towns on either end.
“This is tremendous news for the region overall,” Mr Sullivan said.
“It shows great confidence in industry in the district and will be an economic driver for the whole region and a genuine piece of infra that will provide a great benefit over a long time, not just for trucks but for everyone in preventing delays and improving safety.”
Further afield, the NSW Government has committed $7 million toward building a new bridge at Echuca and will contribute $2.5 million to upgrading the Hume Highway’s “heavy-duty pavement”.
Find out more at www.budget.nsw.gov.au.
Stephen Mudd
Stephen Mudd is a journalist for Fairfax Media west of the great divide. He loves music, dogs and travel.
Stephen Mudd is a journalist for Fairfax Media west of the great divide. He loves music, dogs and travel.
