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Project

New England Highway Upgrade

PROJECT STATUS

Under Procurement

The NSW Government is undertaking a progressive upgrade of the New England Highway, part of the National Land Transport Network, which runs from the Hunter region to the Queensland border.

The upgrade comprises a variety of safety improvements, road widenings and bypasses. Major projects that are part of the upgrade include the Muswellbrook Bypass and Singleton Bypass. The already completed Bolivia Hill upgrade is also a part of the program.

Key Dates

Jul 2022	ROIs Open: Singleton Bypass
Aug 2022	ROIs Close: Singleton Bypass
Dec 2022	ROIs Open: Muswellbrook Bypass
Jan 2023	ROIs Close: Muswellbrook Bypass

Funding contributions

Federal Government
NSW Government

Procurement

Procuring Agency:

TfNSW

PROJECT HISTORY

Dec 2016	The NSW Government committed $92 million towards the Singleton bypass under Rebuilding NSW.
Jun 2021	The 2021-22 NSW Budget allocated $535 million over the next four years, including $70 million in FY2021-22 toward the New England Highway Upgrade. This included $168.7 million over next four years and $14.1 million in FY2021-22 toward the Muswellbrook Bypass. $366.1 million over next four years and $56.2 million in FY2021-22 was allocated toward the Belford to Golden Highway duplication, as well as planning and pre-construction for the Singleton Bypass and completing the Bolivia Hill Upgrade.
Dec 2022	Transport for NSW called for Registrations of Interest for the Muswellbrook Bypass main works contract, closing on 27 January.

Sector

Road

Procurement approach

Unconfirmed |

Location

New South Wales |

Resources

Infrastructure agency resources

NSW Infrastructure Pipeline - December 2018
IA Infrastructure Priority List

Government resources

Singleton Bypass preferred route option - December 2016
Muswellbrook Bypass Options Report - July 2018

Media releases

2016/12
2017/11/08

Tender notices

2022/12/23

Project pages

Transport for NSW

Major Contract

New England Highway - Singleton Bypass

PROJECT STATUS

Under Delivery

The NSW Government is undertaking a progressive upgrade of the New England Highway, part of the National Land Transport Network, which runs from the Hunter region to the Queensland border.

The Singleton Bypass will include a new section of the New England highway west of Singleton that will reconnect to the existing highway past McDougalls Hill.

The scope of the Singleton Bypass includes construction of:

eight kilometres of single lane new highway in each direction
six birdges, including a 1.8-kilometre bridge across the Main Northern Railway, Doughboy Hollow and Hunter River floodplains, and
connections at the southern and northern ends of the bypass, at Putty Road and at Gowrie Gates.

Key Dates

Jul 2022	ROIs Open
Aug 2022	ROIs Close
Nov 2023	Contract Award
2024	Construction Commencement
2026	Expected Construction Completion

Funding contributions

Federal Government
NSW Government

Procurement

Procuring Agency:	Transport for NSW
Shortlist:	ACCIONA, Fulton Hogan and John Holland.
Successful Tenderer:	ACCIONA
Related contracts:	Concept Design and Environmental Assessment Successful Tenderer - AECOM Project Verifier Successful Tenderer - SMEC

PROJECT HISTORY

Dec 2016	The preferred route of the bypass was announced.
Nov 2017	The NSW Government committed $97 million toward the Singleton Bypass.
Oct 2020	The 2020-21 Federal October Budget announced $560 million in funding for the project. An additional $43 million was also allocated to the Bolivia Hill Upgrade.
Jan 2021	Transport for NSW announced the commencement of a Market Interaction Process that will involve registration, provision of documentation to eligible participants, a pre-recorded online briefing, and a submission process.
Apr 2021	Transport for NSW announced that a full interchange will be built at Putty Road.
Jun 2021	The 2021-22 NSW Budget allocated $535 million over the next four years, including $70 million in FY2021-22 toward the New England Highway Upgrade. This included $366.1 million over next four years toward the Belford to Golden Highway duplication, as well as planning and preconstruction for the Singleton Bypass and completing the Bolivia Hill Upgrade. $14 million of this was allocated toward the Singleton Bypass in FY2021-22.
Jul 2021	The NSW Government opened tenders for the provision of transaction management services, closing on 10 August.
Jul 2022	Transport for NSW called for Registrations of Interest for the Singleton Bypass project, closing 11 August,
Nov 2022	TfNSW shortlisted three bidders for the project, including ACCIONA, Fulton Hogan and John Holland.
Jan 2023	Early works commenced on the project.
Nov 2023	TfNSW awarded ACCIONA the Design and Construct contract for the project.
Feb 2024	TfNSW has appointed SMEC as Project Verifier for the project. SMEC will provide design review and construction surveillance services for TfNSW and ACCIONA.
Sep 2024	The NSW Government announced construction had commenced on the project.

Estimated Total Cost

(2017)

Sector

Road

Procurement approach

Traditional Procurement |

Location

New South Wales |

Resources

Media releases

2024/09/05 - Construction commencement
2020/10/05 - Funding
2023/11/26 - Contract award
2024/02/09 - SMEC Project Verifier

Tender notices

Transaction Services
2022/07/05 - ROI

Project pages

Transport for NSW
Transport for NSW New England Highway bypass of Singleton

Major Contract

New England Highway - Muswellbrook Bypass

PROJECT STATUS

Announced

New England Highway - Muswellbrook Bypass

The Muswellbrook Bypass will see the New England Highway pass to the north east of Muswellbrook.

Transport for NSW's preferred option for the bypass is a 9.1-kilometre bypass between the New England Highway near Milpera Drive and north of Sandy Creek Road.

The NSW Government is undertaking the progressive upgrade of the New England Highway, part of National Land Transport Network, which runs from the Hunter region to the Queensland border.

Key Dates

Dec 2022	ROIs Open
Jan 2023	ROIs Close
Dec 2026	Expected Tender Process Commencement
Dec 2027	Expected Construction Commencement

Funding contributions

Federal Government
NSW Government

Procurement

Procuring Agency:	Transport for NSW
Related contracts:	Concept Design and Environmental Assessment Successful Tenderer - AECOM Early Works Successful Tenderer - Fenech Demolition

PROJECT HISTORY

Jul 2018	Options report released by TfNSW.
Feb 2019	The NSW Government committed $266 million to fund the New England Highway bypass of Muswellbrook.
Apr 2021	The NSW Government announced that the project will include connections to Coal Road.
Jun 2021	The 2021-22 NSW Budget allocated $535 million over the next four years, including $70 million in FY2021-22 toward the New England Highway Upgrade. This included $168.7 million over next four years and $14.1 million in FY2021-22 toward the Muswellbrook Bypass.
Apr 2022	Transport for NSW opened an Expression of Interest for Specific Contracts as part of a market interaction process for the project, closing on 13 May.
Oct 2022	The 2022-23 October Federal Budget allocated $268.8 million toward the project.
Dec 2022	Transport for NSW called for Registrations of Interest for the main works contract, closing on 27 January.
Feb 2023	The NSW Government awarded Fenech Demolition the project's early works contract.
Mar 2025	The Federal Government announced it has brought forward its funding allocation for the project and announced an updated procurement and delivery timeline. A tender process is expected to commence in late 2026, with construction scheduled to commence in 2027.

Estimated Total Cost

(2022)

Sector

Road

Procurement approach

Traditional Procurement |

Location

New South Wales |

Resources

Government resources

Options Report - July 2018

Media releases

2019/02
2019/12/06
2023/02/24
2025/03/18 - Federal funding brought forward

Tender notices

2022/04/22
2022/12/23

Project pages

Transport for NSW