The finish line for those involved in the massive task of rebuilding the Hume Highway between Sydney and Melbourne is now well and truly within sight following this week’s reopening of the Wagga Wagga Road.
Federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister Anthony Albanese said the vision of a safer, fully duplicated highway linking Australia’s biggest and second biggest cities is almost a reality, with work on the last remaining section – the Holbrook bypass – on track to be completed by the middle of next year.
“Once completed, this modern, well-engineered piece of road infrastructure – stretching more than 800 kilometres – will support our nation’s ongoing economic development, not just for the next three years but for the next three decades,” said Mr Albanese.
“What’s more, this major nation building project is part of the unprecedented investment the Federal Labor Government is making in NSW.  All up, we’re investing $12 billion – or a third of our infrastructure budget – into renewing and expanding the State’s road and rail infrastructure.”
The new four-lane Holbrook bypass is being built by Abigroup with funding from both the Federal ($224.7 million) and NSW ($22.3 million) governments.  It starts four kilometres to the north of Holbrook then deviates to the west of the town’s cemetery, sewerage treatment facility and industrial estate before re-joining the Highway.
NSW Roads and Ports Minister Duncan Gay said the Wagga Wagga Road was closed last September (2011) to allow construction of the Holbrook bypass to proceed.
“The reopening of this local road is the latest sign that good progress is being made on the project and means motorists will no longer have to detour to Pinnabar Road, also known as Anderson Road,” said Mr Gay.
“The new bypass will also take up to 2,700 trucks a day off the local streets of Holbrook, and deliver safer driving conditions and shorter journey times for all those who use this section of one of the nation’s busiest highways.”
 
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