Frequently asked questions

The New England Highway is a major freight and commuter route forming part of the Sydney to Brisbane corridor of the National Land Transport Network and the primary route connecting the Upper Hunter with Newcastle.

The highway currently passes through the centre of Muswellbrook through multiple sets of traffic signals, a roundabout and under a narrow railway overpass. The highway carries between 11,000 and 20,000 vehicles through the township each day, about 13 per cent being heavy vehicles.

A bypass of the town centre would remove conflicts between local and through vehicles, significantly improving the efficiency of through heavy vehicle movements along the New England Highway, while also improving local amenity.

The proposed bypass would:

  • Improve network efficiency on the New England Highway, particularly travel times for long haul freight movements by providing a free flow 100 kilometre per hour alternative route

  • Improve safety for all road users in the town centre, particularly relating to heavy and light vehicle interactions

  • Improve amenity of Muswellbrook township by removing freight traffic from the town centre

Transport has carried out multiple investigations to identify a preferred option for a New England Highway bypass of Muswellbrook.

In 2015, the NSW Government announced funding to progress planning for the bypass. The preferred route corridor for the bypass was published in July 2018. This also included potential bypass connections.

A preferred option design was displayed for community comment in late 2020.

Feedback received on the preferred option was considered to further refine and prepare the concept design and environmental assessment for the bypass.

For more information on the considered options see Chapter 2 of the REF.

Key features of the proposal include:

  • About nine kilometres of new highway with a single lane in each direction

  • Connection with the New England Highway at the southern end of the proposal, which provides all traffic movements (southern connection)

  • A 38 metre bridge over the bypass at the southern connection

  • A 76 metre long bridge over Muscle Creek Road and Main North railway line

  • A 114 metre long bridge over Muscle Creek

  • Connection with Coal Road, which provides all traffic movements (Coal Road connection), potentially to be constructed in stages

  • A 43 metre long bridge over Coal Road

  • A 367 metre long bridge over Sandy Creek Road, Sandy Creek, Main North railway line and southbound exit ramp

  • Connection with the New England Highway at the northern end of the proposal, which provides all traffic movements (northern connection).

  • Property access and local road adjustments including Burtons Lane, Koolbury Flats Row, Milpera Drive, Muscle Creek Road and Coal Road

For more information see Chapter 3 “The description of the proposal” in the REF.

Transport has carried out detailed traffic investigations and modelling to understand likely future traffic volumes on the existing highway and proposed bypass.

The modelling indicates traffic volumes on the bypass would not reach levels where a dual carriageway would be justified.

The predicted maximum peak hourly traffic flow in 2044 is only about 20 per cent of the total capacity for the proposed single lane carriageway. This demonstrates a single lane in each direction can meet the forecast demand long term.

For more information see Chapter 6.5 Traffic and Transport of the REF.

    Transport has kept the community and stakeholders informed and proactively consulted throughout the development of the proposal.

    Transport has involved the community during the concept design planning phase and the REF preparation phase of the proposal. Consultation activities which have been carried out during the preparation of the concept design and REF, include:

  • Community updates distributed in November 2020

  • Operation of a dedicated web page for the proposal

  • Operation of a dedicated proposal phone number and email address to allow the community to ask questions and provide feedback

  • Meetings with landowners and local businesses

  • Consultation with government agencies

  • Briefings with Muswellbrook Shire Council and local Members of Parliament.

    • A preferred option for the bypass was displayed for community and stakeholder feedback between 23 November and 18 December 2020 and 22 submissions were received in response to the display. Feedback received on the preferred option was considered to further refine and prepare the concept design and environmental assessment for the bypass.

    For more information on Consultation see Chapter 5 of the REF.

Transport for NSW will continue to work with the community and stakeholders during the planning of the Muswellbrook Bypass to understand issues and minimise potential impacts. All community and stakeholder feedback on the project is welcome.

We will liaise directly with any property owners potentially affected by the Muswellbrook Bypass proposal, as well as engage with the broader community and other stakeholders.

Visit the Muswellbrook Bypass project page to find out more information, including our interactive portal.

Feedback received by the community on the REF will inform the development of the proposal.