A multi-million upgrade to a dangerous section of the Barton Highway known as Capricorn Corner, located 28 kilometres north of the Australian Capital Territory, has been completed on time and under budget.

The project has improved safety by realigning the Highway at Capricorn Corner, providing a consistent 100 kilometre speed zone, sealed road shoulders and clearer lines of sight for drivers.

The Barton Highway is an important link between Canberra and the south west of NSW as well as Victoria, with more than 19,000 vehicles a day expected to be using it by 2025.

The Capricorn Corner upgrade is part of the Rudd Labor Government’s $20 million Barton Highway safety package – an investment that will provide a safer road for motorists and truck drivers.

More safety upgrades will continue throughout 2010, with the realignment of the Gounyan Curves to the north of Murrumbateman scheduled to get underway by the middle of this year.

All up, we’re investing $11.6 billion over the next few years to maintain and modernise the road and rail infrastructure of NSW.