Construction commences on the $700m Singleton Bypass project

With the first sod turned, major construction is now underway on the $700 million Singleton Bypass on the New England Highway. 

The Singleton Bypass project is jointly funded by the Australian and New South Wales Governments, contributing $560 million and $140 million respectively. 

“Today is a landmark day for the Singleton community and I am delighted the Australian and NSW governments are working together to improve the journeys of people living and working right across the Hunter region. 

“With the first sod turned, we are hitting the ground running on this vital infrastructure project, which will transform the daily lives of so many people around the Hunter region. 

“It will mean people can get home safer and quicker, spending more time in their communities and less time on the road,” Federal Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King said. 

“This is a huge milestone for the Singleton community with the bypass soon about to take shape before their very eyes. 

“The project is also giving the local economy a much-needed boost by supporting more than 1,300 jobs during construction,” Federal Member for Hunter Dan Repacholi said. 

ACCIONA Constructions Australia Pty Ltd is carrying out the delivery of the project and the contractor has been working to finalise the design of the new bypass ahead of major construction. 

Key features of the project include: 

• About 8 kilometres of new highway (the bypass) with a single lane in each direction 

• Connection with the New England Highway at the southern end of the bypass (the southern connection) including a southbound entry ramp and northbound exit ramp 

• A bridge over the bypass at the southern connection 

• A bridge over the Main North railway line, the Doughboy Hollow and Hunter River floodplain, Army Camp Road and Putty Road (bridge over the floodplain) 

• Connection to Putty Road including a southbound entry ramp and northbound exit ramp at the Putty Road connection to create a full interchange via a roundabout at Putty Road (the Putty Road connection) 

• A bridge over the entry ramp at the Putty Road connection 

• A bridge over Rose Point floodway 

• A bridge over the Hunter River 

• A bridge over the New England Highway west of the existing Main North railway line overbridge (known as Gowrie Gates) 

• Connection with the New England Highway at Gowrie Gates consisting of a southbound entry ramp and northbound exit ramp. The northbound exit ramp would connect to the New England Highway via a new roundabout intersection at Maison Dieu Road 

• A climbing lane between Gowrie Gates and the northern connection 

• Connection at Magpie Street including providing access to the nearby industrial area (the northern connection), consisting of a southbound entry ramp, southbound exit ramp, and northbound entry ramp 

• A bridge over the bypass at the northern connection 

Refinements to the design have been made to improve safety and functionality of the bypass, following additional investigations and constructive engagement with the community, stakeholders and property owners. 

“I am excited to see major work underway on a project that will transform the way people move around the Hunter region. 

“The Liberals and Nationals talked about this project for years, but it has taken Federal and State Labor Governments to deliver it, working together for the communities of the Hunter region. 

“Agriculture, tourism, mining, manufacturing industries along with commuters and students will all benefit every single day from this investment,” NSW Regional Transport and Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison said. 

“The Singleton Bypass is long overdue and will bring much relief to long suffering motorists in the Upper Hunter. 

“The teams from contractor, ACCIONA Constructions, and Transport for NSW deserve a pat on the back for all their hard work getting ready to deliver the biggest road project in Singleton’s history,” NSW Labor’s spokesperson for the Upper Hunter Emily Suvaal said. 

Weather permitting, the Singleton Bypass is due to be completed in late 2026. 

Once open to traffic, the Singleton Bypass will remove one of the most notorious bottlenecks in the Hunter region as well as about 15,000 vehicles from the Singleton CBD each day. Motorists passing through the bypass will be able to avoid five sets of traffic lights while also benefitting from improved road safety and reduced travel times. 

“Today, we’re marking a major milestone for the Hunter as construction on the new bypass begins. This project will soon make travel safer, faster, and more efficient for everyone. 

“Starting construction on the bypass is one of the ways the NSW Government is delivering top-quality services to regional areas, making sure that our communities have access to the best infrastructure possible. 

“There’s never been a better time to live in the Hunter. With this new bypass, we’re connecting people across NSW and getting people from A to B quicker and safer than ever before,” NSW Minister for the Hunter Yasmin Catley said. 

Source: NSW Government – Media Releases; Transport for NSW (1, 2, 3); Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government; Infrastructure Magazine; Roads & Infrastructure Australia