The New South Wales government has announced a $23.7 million upgrade package of the Golden Highway is now underway to make the freight route safer and more reliable.
The upgrade at Merriwa has started to build a new westbound overtaking lane around 12km west of Merriwa and provide a safer and more predictable journey across one of regional NSW’s most important east-west corridors.
The state government says for 12 years the Liberal–National government failed to deliver the safety improvements communities along the Golden Highway desperately needed, leaving residents of the Upper Hunter languishing.
This $23.7 million commitment includes $12 million announced during the 2023 election campaign and a further $11.7 million allocated in the 2025–26 NSW budget.
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The investment builds on the more than $133 million jointly invested by the NSW and Australian governments to improve the Golden Highway between Newcastle and Dubbo.
“For too long, regional communities like Merriwa were left waiting for the basic safety upgrades they needed and deserved. Today’s announcement shows clearly that under the Minns government, the regions are no longer an afterthought,” NSW roads minister Jenny Aitchison says.
“The Golden Highway is a lifeline for the Hunter, carrying grain, resources, livestock, local industry and families. This upgrade is about keeping people safe on the road, reducing frustration and giving heavy vehicles and motorists the room they need to travel confidently.
“This is what delivery looks like: a government honouring its commitments, investing in the future of regional NSW and giving the Hunter the fair share it was denied for 12 years.”
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