Federal Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Minister Anthony Albanese and NSW Roads Minister Michael Daley today declared the Coolac Bypass on the Hume Highway open.

Mr Albanese said he was pleased to see the completion of the $179 million project which is a vital link in completing dual carriageways on the Hume Highway by 2012.

“The Coolac Bypass created about 300 jobs during construction and was part of the Rudd Labor Government’s $950 million commitment to upgrade the entire length of the Hume Highway.

“This new 12-kilometre stretch of four lane divided highway will support many more jobs by reducing travel times and operating costs for businesses along this stretch of the Highway,” he said.

“The Hume is the main freight route between Sydney and Melbourne and carries more than 20 million tonnes of freight every year.

“It is also a vital transport link for people in southern New South Wales, and I’d like to thank the communities and businesses in Coolac and Pettit, who have been patient and supportive of the project,” he said.

Mr Daley said, “This bypass significantly improves road safety on the Hume Highway by removing heavy vehicles from the village of Coolac and providing two lanes in each direction to separate northbound and southbound traffic.

“Together with the duplication of Sheahan Bridge at Gundagai, which opened on 25 May this year, the bypass completes four lanes of divided highway from the south of Sydney to the Sturt Highway turn-off.

“As part of this project, 50,000 native trees were planted and crews installed 137 nesting boxes for native birds and six glider poles for native fauna.

“During this major upgrade, every effort was also made to preserve the area’s history with crews moving a heritage-listed timber railway platform from Pettit to opposite Coolac village.

“A length of the main trunk from a 150 year old tree was also preserved and moved to the Gundagai Historical Society.

“In coming months, minor work to complete the project will be finished including landscaping and building amenities in the two rest areas,” Mr Daley concluded.

The main features of the Coolac Bypass project are:

• Building 12km of new four lane divided highway


• Re-building four kilometres of northbound road between Muttama Creek and the Dog on the Tuckerbox


• A new interchange at Cootamundra Road, east of Coolac


• An underpass for local traffic at Coleman Street in Pettit


• Building twin bridges at Muttama Creek and Daisy Bed Creek


• Upgrading Main Street and Gobarralong Road in Pettit


• Building two rest areas, one on each side of the Hume highway, for heavy vehicles and cars.

The interchange at Cootamundra Road provides motorists with access to Coolac village.

Motorists travelling northbound can access Pettit village and Gobarralong Road by the ramp and underpass at Coleman Street.

Southbound motorists can turn left directly into Gobarralong Road.