Newell Highway Getting New Lease on Life

A sod turning ceremony on Wednesday, July 20 marked the official beginning of the Newell Highway Heavy Duty Pavement Upgrade (HDPU) project between Narrabri and Moree. The $261.17 million project was announced in April this year thanks to joint funding from the Australian and NSW Governments.

Moree Plains Shire Council Mayor Mark Johnson said the HDPU project will significantly benefit our Shire now and into the future.

“The Newell Highway runs through a large part of our Shire and the upgrade, once completed, will reduce travel time, provide better highway flood immunity and will increase freight productivity”, said Mayor Johnson.

“The upgrade will also have a flow-on effect for the Moree Special Activation Precinct.”

Stage 1 of the HDPU project is prioritising four sections along the Newell Highway, which will have a total length of 27.3 kilometres of new pavement when completed. The work includes the construction of new overtaking lanes, additional segments of road, upgrades to intersections and more bridge-sized drainage culverts.

Transport for NSW noted that construction work, being carried out by contractor Fulton Hogan, will occur Monday to Friday between 7 am and 6 pm. Work will also take place on alternate weekends from 7 am to 6 pm and excludes public holidays.

Work zones will have temporary traffic changes that include, but are not limited to, intersection and lane closures and short stoppages. Speed limits will also be reduced during working hours.

Mayor Johnson added, “The project is creating 640 new job opportunities during construction and is expected to be completed in early 2026.”

“This is the largest pavement upgrade project of the Newell Highway ever undertaken.”

The upgrade has been made possible thanks to funding from the Australian Government ($205.73 million) and NSW Government ($55.44 million).

For more information on the project, please head to https://nswroads.work/n2m.

Photo (from left): Mayor Mark Johnson, Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall, Transport for NSW’s Director West Alistair Lunn, Transport for NSW’s Project Manager Scott Richard and Fulton Hogan’s Construction Manager Shane Hassett