NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Member for Dubbo Troy Grant have presented Narromine Shire Mayor Craig Davies with a cheque for $25,000 to go towards a scoping study into the upgrade of the Tomingley to Eumungerie road.
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The scoping study will also help to inform council and the Orana Joint organisation more widely on future feasibility works for potential transport solutions.
Narromine Shire Council has been investigating options around the potential upgrade of the Tomingley to Eumungerie road for several years. The road is increasingly used by freight operators and heavy vehicles seeking to divert off the Newell Highway to avoid congestion in Dubbo utilising this flatter and quicker route.
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Mr Grant said that this road upgrade would improve transport and freight efficiency in and out of Narromine while also providing a heavy vehicle ring road option for the region, bypassing Dubbo.
“This potential road upgrade would be of great benefit to the Narromine Shire and the Orana Region, improving freight movement and efficiency, access to the shire and will also help to improve road safety,” said Mr Grant.
“The investment would complement upgrades being undertaken on the Newell, Golden and Mitchell highways in the region and is in line with the State freight strategy.” he said.
Narromine Shire Mayor Craig Davies is delighted that the significance of this important thoroughfare has now been recognised.
“This $25,000 grant will contribute to a study of the Tomingley to Eumungerie road to better understand the amount of freight utilising the road, the potential economic benefits the upgrade would provide and look at growth in traffic volumes.” said Mr Davies.
“Future upgrades of this road corridor will reduce travel times, reduce maintenance costs and fuel consumption for users while aligning with the inland rail route and decreasing congestion in around Dubbo,” he said.
Mr Grant said this road upgrade project would create a natural bypass of Dubbo.
“Not all heavy vehicles travelling the length of the Newell need to stop in Dubbo, this upgrade has the potential to move some of this heavy traffic away from Dubbo, without the significant cost of constructing a new ring road elsewhere also avoiding costly and lengthy land acquisition processes and disruption to lives and livelihoods.” Mr Grant said.
