Great Western Highway - Cox River Road Upgrade secures $116m funding boost

The Cox River Road Upgrade at Little Hartley, New South Wales is being boosted with a $116 million investment from the Australian Government, funded through the 2024-25 Federal Budget. 

The $232 million project includes: 

• Upgrading 2.4 kilometres of the Great Western Highway from east of Mid Hartley Road to east of Cox River Road into two lanes in each direction 
• Grade separated interchange at Cox River Road, supplemented by new sections of connecting roadway to create a local service road network 
• Realignment of the existing highway near Browns Gap Road to create a local service road 
• Upgrades to the junction at Browns Gap Road and Baaners Lane, including a U-turn Bay on Baaners Lane 
• Retaining wall on the highway eastbound adjacent to the Lolly Bug 

“The Albanese and Minns governments’ partnership to invest in this critical project for the Central West demonstrates our shared commitment to significantly improving regional roads. 

“We understand the Great Western Highway is a busy and vital route for visitors to the region, locals, businesses and the freight industry, which is why we are getting on with the job of building a road network for the future,” NSW Regional Transport and Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison said. 

Construction on the project commenced in early 2023, and it is expected to be completed by late 2025. About 530 jobs are anticipated to be supported through this upgrade. 

This funding injection for the Cox River Road Upgrade at Little Hartley is part of over $3.1 billion investment towards vital land transport infrastructure projects in New South Wales in the recently announced Federal Budget. 

“We are working to deliver significant infrastructure that connects communities, stimulates jobs and builds the future of our nation. 

“The Cox River Road Upgrade will ensure people in the Central West will get home quicker and, most importantly, travel safer. 

“We’re getting on with the job of delivering a better future for all Australians, made in Australia,” Federal Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King said. 

The overall funding commitment from the 2024-25 Federal Budget also includes $2.5 billion to upgrade important road and rail infrastructure and support planning for future projects along with $580 million to help ensure the delivery of existing projects. 

The Australian Government’s total infrastructure commitment to New South Wales over the next decade is now at $20.8 billion, including $17.7 billion in major road and rail projects and $3 billion for smaller projects through programs such as the Roads to Recovery and Black Spot programs. 

“Good road networks unlock economic opportunities in our regions, they make it easier for locals and tourists to get around, and they keep our freight vehicles moving efficiently. 

“The Central West is a fast-growing part of NSW, which is why we continue to partner with the Minns Government to progress high-priority road safety projects across the state,” Federal Regional Development and Local Government Minister Kristy McBain said. 

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