New England Highway bypass of Scone
See: https://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/projects/new-england-highway/scone-rail-level-crossing/index.html
http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/projects/hunter/new-england-highway/scone-rail-level-crossing/index.html
Updates and announcements
The contract to build the New England Highway bypass of Scone has been awarded to Daracon Group.
The Australian and NSW governments have committed $120 million for construction of this major upgrade to the New England Highway.
Work is expected to start mid-2018 and be completed by late 2020, weather permitting.
We will keep the community and road users informed of progress including any changes to traffic throughout the construction period.
Project background
The New England Highway south of Scone carries 8,400 vehicles a day, peaking in town at 14,000. Around 8,000 vehicles use the Kelly Street crossing every day, including 1,200 heavy vehicles.
There is a poor crash history on this four kilometre section of highway, with 26 crashes in the five years to December 2015.
Project objectives and features
The bypass will remove a large number of heavy vehicles from the town centre. This will result in improved:
- traffic flow and amenity for local traffic
- travel times for freight and long distance traffic
- safety for all road users.
The bypass also provides an alternative route for road users wanting to travel across town unimpeded by rail operations.
Key features of the upgrade include:
- a two lane highway bypass to the west of Scone passing through the Scone Golf Course
- three bridges – providing a grade-separated intersection at the southern end, crossing over the rail line south of Scone, and crossing over Kingdon and Liverpool streets
- access to and from the bypass to the north and south of town and midway at St Aubins Street providing for all turning movements
Please view or download the bypass design map.
Community engagement
Several changes were made to the design following comments received through our community engagement activities. Changes include providing a grade-separated southern interchange and returning all vehicle turning movements to the northern intersection. The changes improve road safety, connectivity and access for passing trade.
We have published a submissions report summarising community comments, our responses and details of changes made to the design after feedback from the community during the display period.
We have also published an Addendum Review of Environmental Factors that examines the impacts and mitigation measures arising from these design changes.
Scone rail bridge
Community consultation revealed limited support for a range of road over rail bridge options in the town centre of Scone. Some submissions questioned the need for the rail bridge once the bypass is completed and others suggested a bridge over the rail line to the north of town may be more appropriate.
We have published a community consultation report which summarises community feedback and our responses to the issues raised.
Roads and Maritime has handed over all information on the rail bridge and Upper Hunter Shire Council is considering its options for any future rail bridge.
Environment protection and monitoring
The Environment Protection Licence and monthly environmental monitoring data for the project can be found on the Environment Protection Licence page.
Next steps
Construction is expected to start mid-2018 and be completed by late 2020.
We will continue to keep stakeholders and the community informed as the project progresses.
Community engagement
Several changes were made to the design following comments received through our community engagement activities. Changes include providing a grade-separated southern interchange and returning all vehicle turning movements to the northern intersection. The changes improve road safety, connectivity and access for passing trade.
We have published a submissions report summarising community comments, our responses and details of changes made to the design after feedback from the community during the display period.
We have also published an Addendum Review of Environmental Factors that examines the impacts and mitigation measures arising from these design changes.
Scone rail bridge
Community consultation revealed limited support for a range of road over rail bridge options in the town centre of Scone. Some submissions questioned the need for the rail bridge once the bypass is completed and others suggested a bridge over the rail line to the north of town may be more appropriate.
We have published a community consultation report which summarises community feedback and our responses to the issues raised.
Roads and Maritime has handed over all information on the rail bridge and Upper Hunter Shire Council is considering its options for any future rail bridge.
Environment protection and monitoring
The Environment Protection Licence and monthly environmental monitoring data for the project can be found on the Environment Protection Licence page.
Next steps
Construction is expected to start mid-2018 and be completed by late 2020.
We will continue to keep stakeholders and the community informed as the project progresses.
Project contact
For further information about this project or to register your contact details with Roads and Maritime to receive future project updates contact:
Scone bypass
Phone: 1800 870 751 (Option 1 – Shay Riley-Lewis)
Email: sconebypass
@daracon.com.au
Mail: Roads and Maritime Services Hunter Regional Office, Locked Bag 2030 Newcastle NSW 2300
Scone rail bridge
Phone: 1800 870 751 (Option 2 – Phil Davidson, Project Manager)
Email: Philip.Davidson
@rms.nsw.gov.au
Mail: Roads and Maritime Services Hunter Regional Office, Locked Bag 2030 Newcastle NSW 2300
Daracon to commence work on the Scone bypass in July
June 7 2018 – 3:47PM
Acknowledgement: Caitlin Reid Journalist Fairfax Media
CONSTRUCTION of the Scone bypass is locked in for July 9 with the contractor of the project to start delivering girders – support beams used in construction – later this month. Daracon Group was awarded the construction contract for the two-year project in April and Upper Hunter Shire Council general manager Steve McDonald says council will be working with the RMS to ensure there is minimal disruption to the community during the process.
“We had a briefing last week from the RMS who told us about 180 girders will be starting to be delivered to about four locations here mid-June,” Mr McDonald said at the annual Scone Chamber of Commerce budget breakfast on Thursday morning.
“They will be arriving near the Bill Rose Sports Complex, two a day, at around 5am in the morning.
“We’ve talked about disruption to the community and we want them to give us a two-week plan in advance of what’s happening so if there is any impacts on facilities we will do works so we can coordinate that better.
“We will continue consultation with sporting groups and Daracon during the process.”
$1.3 million is being spent on upgrades to the Bill Rose Sporting complex in council’s 2018-19 budget due to the impact the bypass will have on the facility.
The funding will go towards upgrades to the playground, netball courts, lighting, cricket nets and playing fields.
The Scone Golf Course, which is currently undergoing redevelopment due to the impact of the bypass is due for completion in November.
Mr McDonald said providing weather is reasonable there is no reason why the bypass won’t be finished within its two-year time frame.
Scone bypass video on RMS website
June 28 2018 – 1:00PM
Rail overpass at the northern end of Scone preferred option for emergency services, police and council
The Kelly Street rail crossing.
UPPER Hunter Shire Council has revoked plans for a Kelly Street rail overpass with an overpass at the northern end of town now on the table as the preferred option.
A motion was passed at Council’s June meeting to work with the RMS, other government departments and the community to further develop a proposal for a rail overpass at Muffet Street near the saleyards and continue to lobby for funding.
The overpass at Muffet Street and Makybe Diva Street would link to the northern end of the bypass and the New England Highway.
There were four options in total put forward, including the existing rail crossing location at Kelly Street, St Aubins Street or Sherwood Street but the general consensus among the community’s emergency service providers and police is that the northern end of town would make the most sense, alleviating the flow of heavy transport through the CBD and providing a direct heavy vehicle access route to the town’s saleyards and industrial area.
Council also passed a motion to request the RMS implement an intelligent transport system (ITS) to inform emergency services of the need to divert early to the bypass or overpass due to an approaching train.
With an ITS system on the cards local emergency services and police have come out in support of the overpass at the northern end.
“I appreciate the access, design and financial constraints of an overpass at either St Aubins or Kelly Street,” Hunter Valley Police District Chief Inspector Guy Guiana said in a letter to council.
“I am also mindful of the potential impact on CBD businesses and traffic flow.
“While the optimal rail solution for emergency services is a crossing close to the centre of town I accept that the cost and impact could outweigh the potential benefits.
“It is in my opinion that the addition of a railway overpass at Muffet Street will certainly meet the needs of police and provide for acceptable response times.”
Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) Upper Hunter zone commander Superintendent Brett Jackson agreed that Muffet Street was the best option and “would be sufficient to not delay responding crews drastically from Scone Fire Station.”
“Whilst having an overpass in the middle of town coming off St Aubins Street might seem like the ideal solution I don’t think it is in the best interest of the town to potentially remove the existing businesses at the Kelly Street intersection for this purpose,” he said.
After recent meetings with State Minister for Roads Melinda Pavey at Parliament House to discuss financial assistance, council says the overpass remains a high priority.
Meanwhile, construction of the $120 million Scone bypass is ramping up with the first girders arriving for construction of one of three bridges on the bypass, the Parsons Gully Bridge.
RMS says 170 more girders are expected to be delivered in the next six months for use across the three bridges.
See also: