Hunter motorists are sampling the first small section of the Singleton Bypass today, with traffic switched onto a newly built section of road on the future Southern Connection.
This latest traffic switch, between White Falls Lane and just past Newington Lane, is one of several staged changes ahead of the bypass opening later this year.
At the southern connection, motorists heading out of Singleton on the New England Highway are now using a newly built southbound on-ramp, while northbound traffic is being diverted onto an off-ramp that passes beneath one of the project's new bridges.
Vehicles on the New England Highway will travel approximately one kilometre in each direction of newly built ramps of the Singleton Bypass project.
Backed by a $560 million investment from the Albanese Labor Government and $140 million from the Minns Labor Government, the $700 million Singleton Bypass is a commitment to making journeys down the New England Highway safer and more efficient.
Once complete, this project will remove up to 15,000 vehicles a day from Singleton's main street, slash travel times and allow motorists to bypass five sets of traffic lights - delivering real, daily benefits for local families, businesses and freight operators.
The eight-kilometre bypass will run from near Newington Lane in the south to just past Magpie Street in the north, featuring a full interchange at Putty Road and key connections to the New England Highway at the southern and northern ends at Gowrie.
Major progress has already been made, with all six bridges nearing completion - including the 1.6-kilometre structure across the Hunter Floodplain - while crews push ahead with pavements, interchanges and final works across the corridor.
With more traffic switches to come, the project remains on track to open later this year, keeping up momentum on a critical piece of infrastructure for the Hunter.
More information is available at https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/projects/current-projects/singleton-bypass-new-england-highway
An interactive map of the project, including indicative changes to the road alignment around the Southern Connection is available here: Map | Singleton Bypass | Transport for NSW (RMS)
Quotes attributable to Federal Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister, Catherine King:
"This is progress motorists will be able to see and feel, as traffic moves onto the first small section of the Singleton Bypass.
"2026 will be a year of action on the Singleton Bypass, as we power towards completing the project by the end of the year.
"It means from 2027, Singleton will no longer have B-doubles and thousands of cars moving down the main street every day. Instead, through traffic will coast past on the new bypass, while those who want to stop in town to take a break and purchase a meal will enjoy the safer main street and lower traffic volumes."
Quotes attributable to NSW Minister for the Hunter, Yasmin Catley:
"This is great news for Singleton and the Hunter.
"The Singleton Bypass is just one of the major investments the Minns Labor Government is delivering for the Hunter - including more than $5 billion worth of new roads and transport infrastructure.
"Once complete, the Singleton Bypass will mean fewer trucks in the heart of town, safer local roads and better connections for the people who live, work and raise a family in Singleton."
Quotes attributable to NSW Minister for Roads, Jenny Aitchison:
"It's fantastic to see the Singleton Bypass powering forward with the first traffic switch today.
"This project is about giving people more time back in their day. Less time stuck in traffic and more time at home with their families, whether that's parents getting to school drop-off, seeing friends on the weekend or simply making it home in time for dinner.
"By taking around 15,000 vehicles out of Singleton's town centre, we're making local streets safer, quieter and more accessible for the people who live and work here every day.
"This is one of the biggest infrastructure investments Singleton has ever seen, and it's going to make a real difference to the daily lives of this community for generations to come."
Quotes attributable to Member for Hunter, Dan Repacholi:
"This is exactly the kind of investment our region needs - getting heavy traffic out of Singleton and making everyday trips quicker and safer for locals.
"It's great to see this project taking shape, because it means less time on the road and more time where it matters for Hunter families."
