Newell-Mitchell Highway intersection upgrade lights turned on

The Australian and NSW governments have jointly funded the $40 million upgrade to the four-lane intersection to improve road safety and improve efficiencies.

As part of the intersection upgrade, the roundabout was replaced with lights to better regulate traffic flow. Almost 20,000 tonnes of asphalt was laid and more than 21,000 tonnes of material was excavated, with more than 90 per cent of that recycled or reused within the road corridors.

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The temporary roundabout will be removed overnight, before the traffic lights are switched on at midnight Friday morning.

Crews will continue to install signs, as well as complete landscaping, pedestrian fencing and line marking.

Member for Dubbo Dugald Saunders said this was just one of 13 projects funded as part of $300 million committed to upgrade the Newell Highway corridor.

"This work will ensure better traffic flow for the local community and other motorists moving through this major intersection in the Central West," he said.

"Road users now have additional merge and turning lanes - and safer turning paths for road trains up to 36.5 metres long - as well as a range of features including new footpaths, improved drainage, a shared bike path, traffic islands, medians and pedestrian fencing to clearly separate pedestrians from traffic lanes and keep them safe."

NSW Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole said on top of delivering safer, smoother journeys for road users, the project has provided work for more than 400 people since construction began in April 2020.

"This is just one of five projects the NSW Government is delivering as part of the $301.2 million Building a Better Dubbo program to cut down travel time, make roads safer and ease congestion in and around Dubbo," Mr Toole said.

Final work on this major project is expected to be completed in November.