Nationals MP for Cootamundra Steph Cooke says news of a significant upgrade to the railway crossing along Mary Gilmore Way at Bribbaree is a "massive win."
Transport for NSW has commenced design work to transform the crossing, between West Wyalong and Young, from a passive to an active level crossing, with boom gates, flashing LED lights, warning bells, and improved signage.
Ms Cooke welcomed the news after calling on the Minister for Transport to guarantee full active protection at the notorious location.
"Locals know this crossing for all too well for all the wrong reasons," Ms Cooke said.
"Earlier this year, I made it clear that securing a full upgrade of this crossing was a priority in 2026."
"It's extremely encouraging that not only has the Minister validated our concerns, but she will be seeking to fast-track this project so that everyone who travels Mary Gilmore Way can get home safely."
The Mary Gilmore Way crossing has been the site of multiple serious incidents and is widely regarded as one of the most challenging passive rail crossings in the region, due to high traffic volumes, heavy freight movements, and limited visibility.
In 2023, the crossing was selected for a technology trial, which included radar-activated LED stop signs and additional warning signage.
However, Ms Cooke said activating the crossing was the only way to give the community confidence in its safety, with the trial proving to be a "band-aid solution" at this location.
While the upgrade progresses through design, interim safety improvements are being delivered on the road approach to the crossing, including rumble strips, a review of advanced warning signage and investigations into photoluminescent line markings to improve visibility in low-light conditions.
The existing radar-activated stop sign system will also remain in place and may be upgraded to use emerging machine learning technologies.
Ms Cooke said the crossing's location on a key freight route made the upgrade particularly important.
"There's still work ahead to see this project delivered, but this is a huge step forward and a sign that safety is finally being taken seriously by the NSW Government," Ms Cooke said.
"The community can take comfort that this dangerous crossing will finally get the protections it needs in both the short-term and long-term."
Design work is being jointly funded by Transport for NSW and the Australian Rail Track Corporation and is expected to be completed by the end of the 2025-26 financial year.
Construction of the active crossing infrastructure will then be fast-tracked once current projects under the Regional Level Crossing Upgrade Fund are completed.
