Bland Shire Council General Manager Ray Smith was pleased to learn the upgrade will continue.  

“Bland Shire Council welcomes the release of funding in the 2017-2018 state budget to continue with stage three and four of the West Wyalong heavy vehicle alternate route upgrade. Once completed the upgrade will deliver improved safety and convenience  for heavy vehicles utilising the heavy vehicle route and light traffic travelling into and through West Wyalong,” he said. 

The West Wyalong heavy vehicle alternative route was initially set up by Bland Shire Council as a local heavy vehicle bypass. In 2010 the route became a state road with the aim to help remove heavy vehicles from the main street (Newell Highway) of West Wyalong.

The heavy vehicle alternative route has a mix of through traffic, heavy vehicles and local traffic and includes five railway level crossings and fifteen intersections. Residential areas also surround the road.

The amount of freight on the Newell Highway is expected to continue to increase, so an upgraded is needed to meet that demand.

The NSW Government says the work will improve road safety by widening the road and strengthening the road surface