scone.com.auMoonan Brook and Hunter Road upgrades
THE Upper Hunter Shire Council has received more than $8 million of government funding for upgrades to Moonan Brook Road and Hunter Road.
Starting from the intersection where they meet, both roads will receive resealing, pavement widening and additional drain structures.
Upper Hunter Shire Council General Manager Greg McDonald said Council will put out design tenders at the ordinary meeting later this month, with Moonan Brook roadworks expected to begin as early as February 2022.
“Once design work is done, we will then go out for a new tender for construction around September or October, so we are expecting construction to start at the beginning of next year,” Mr. McDonald said.
Council needs to secure an additional $2.5 million for the Hunter Road project, which is expected to cost $4.6 million and will be seeking further funding when the project is ‘shovel ready’.
“We’ll do as much as we can with design work but until we get a balance of funds we can’t commit to construction, not until we’ve got all of the money,” Mr. McDonald said.
“The government likes the term ‘shovel ready’ and it generally takes us six to eight months to get the design done, depending on size of the job. We’ll start on that design then go back to the government and tell them we’re shovel ready and hopefully they’ll throw us the balance we need to finish that job off,” he said.
The Moonan Brook upgrades have been funded by the NSW Government Fixing Local Roads program ($4.9 million), the Australian Government’s Roads to Recovery program ($500,000) and Council ($200,000).
A further $2 million from the Australian Governments Heavy Vehicle Safety & Productivity Program Round 7 will go towards the Hunter Road project.
Mayor Maurice Collison thanked the Australian and NSW governments for funding towards the road projects.
“The Moonan Brook and Hunter Road improvements are part of our commitment to allocating resources and funding to improve the road network in the Shire,” Cr Collison said.
“With these upgrades we will be able to provide safer conditions for local residents and easier access for visitors wanting to explore the natural wonders of our region,” he said.
Moonan Brook Road upgrades
- Pavement widening and strengthening;
- Initial seal of the 5.4km segment of road;
- Installation of additional drainage structures;
- Clearing vegetation and widen cuttings to improve sight distance;
- Installation of guard rail.
Hunter Road upgrades
- Pavement widening and strengthening;
- Initial seal of the 6.6km segment of road;
- Installation of additional drainage structures;
- Installation of guard rail.
Tags: Hunter Road, Moonan Brook Road, road upgrades, Roadworks