CONSTRUCTION of the two-lane $137 million New England Highway bypass of Scone is in full swing with the delivery of eight 27-metre long girders weighing fifty tonnes each.
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New England MP Barnaby Joyce and Upper Hunter MP Michael Johnsen inspected the site compound at Makybe Diva Street in Scone on Wednesday with representatives of Upper Hunter Shire Council and contractor Daracon.
Daracon’s project manager Justin Foot said they are doing all they can to get the bypass up and running by 2020.
“It’s an exciting project with an end date set for 2020, weather permitting,” he said.
“But like any contract we are pushing to have it done earlier and would love to see it finished by December.”
He says the project has created around 100 contract jobs during the construction, with most living locally.
“The girders that we have here today will be used across the three bridges, with the physical part of the works to happen in around a week.”
While a contractor for the concrete is still being sort, site access, fencing and environmental controls are currently underway.
Member for New England Barnaby Joyce commented on the separation of the highway adding increased safety.
“This is a section of road with a patchy safety history, with 26 crashes occurring between 2010 and 2015,” he said.
“The four-kilometre section to be bypassed will separate highway and local traffic, providing significant safety benefits and making it safer for all travellers throughout the region.”
Upper Hunter MP Michael Johnsen said the bypass would provide an alternative route for motorists wanting to travel across Scone unrestricted and would be particularly important for emergency services.
“Long-haul heavy vehicle operators and other road users will be able to avoid rail crossings during their journeys and emergency services will have an unimpeded path when responding to emergencies west of Scone,” Mr Johnsen said.
Normal work times will be between 7am and 6pm on weekdays and between 8am and 1pm on Saturday.
Following the inspection, Mr Joyce, Mr Johnsen and council representatives then moved on to the Scone Regional Livestock Selling Centre to inspect works currently underway.
These include the construction of a 7000 square metre roof area over the selling and holding pens; installation of water tanks and a water reticulation system to provide drinking water to livestock; new power distribution supply and lighting and a CCTV system.
There upgrade will also mean an enhanced Livestock Selling System improving sale day efficiency and offering online live streaming and auctioning.