$25 Million to Advance the Next Stages of the Barton Highway

Published on 26 March 2025

Yass Valley Council welcomes the Albanese Government’s announcement of an additional $25 million to plan future upgrades along the Barton Highway.

The Barton Highway Upgrade Program – Future Stages – Planning Project is expected to support planning work for future stages, extending from Capricorn Place to Murrumbateman, including the much-anticipated Murrumbateman bypass.

Detailed planning for Stage 2 of the upgrade is nearing completion, which will extend the highway duplication from Kaveneys Road towards Capricorn Place and complete the duplication across the ACT border.

Planning for future stages is set to begin later this year. 

Yass Valley Mayor Jasmin Jones welcomed the announcement, saying:

“I’m absolutely delighted that a $25 million investment has been announced to support planning work for future stage upgrades of the Barton Highway. Yass Valley Council has been actively advocating for full duplication, and the community has made it clear that the Murrumbateman bypass is a key priority. We hear these concerns and will continue working to ensure the bypass is brought forward in planning.”

Mayor Jones, who continues to advocate for the Murrumbateman bypass to be central to any resequencing of the proposed stages, continued:

“Our residents are understandably impatient to see Stage 2 construction start and be delivered concurrently with upgrades around Murrumbateman. It’s crucial that the Murrumbateman bypass is prioritised, and funding locked in to ensure the safety of our community and drivers alike.

“With a school now located on the Barton Highway in Murrumbateman, the need for a bypass is urgent, especially considering the lack of any pedestrian crossings or traffic lights for students and residents to access the recreational areas, ovals, park and amenities opposite.”

Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, and Local Government Catherine King, said:

“The Barton Highway is a key link for anyone driving from Canberra to Yass and onwards to southern NSW and Victoria. These planning works will continue the duplication efforts along the Barton Highway corridor, reducing congestion, cutting travel times, and giving the road network the flexibility and reliability it needs to keep traffic moving at all times.”

Federal Member for Eden-Monaro and Minister for Regional Development Kristy McBain, said:

“Residents of the Yass Valley have called for the Barton Highway to be duplicated for decades, which is why we continue to deliver more funding to progress this critical upgrade.”

Why Is Duplication of the Barton Highway & Murrumbateman Bypass Urgent?

With daily traffic between the ACT and NSW currently at 13,000 movements and projected to increase to 21,000 by 2037, duplication of the Barton Highway is urgently needed.

Yass Valley Council has been a strong advocate for the Murrumbateman bypass, which is essential for creating a town centre separate from the Barton Highway, unlocking much-needed housing in a safer manner, and improving overall connectivity. As part of the broader settlement strategy, Murrumbateman’s population is expected to grow to 10,000 by 2036, contributing to a total of 28,000 residents across the Yass Valley.

The highway serves as a critical transport link for commuters, businesses, and freight, connecting regional industries such as wine, grain, livestock, and forestry to domestic markets from the South Coast to the Mid-West NSW, as well as international markets via Canberra Airport. With the expansion of regional agriculture, manufacturing, and construction, heavy vehicle and commercial traffic are also on the rise

Additionally, Yass Valley is a strategic transport centre - a vital conduit for freight haulage, commuters and destination visitors - but is also a major fatigue and accident zone. This is reflected in data showing 70% of crashes involve non-resident drivers, compared to the NSW average of 20%.

Given these pressures, Yass Valley Council welcomes this investment and will continue to advocate for the duplication, as these safety measures are critical to supporting both local and regional economic growth and road safety.