Merriwa to Willow Tree Road repair

⁠⁠⁠Upper Hunter Shire Council has invited specialist road design consultants to tender for the design and specifications to rebuild 3km of MR358 (Coulson’s Creek Rd) to B-double capacity.

Once the designs are finalised Council will invite tenders early to mid 2021 for the reconstruction of the redesigned road between Merriwa and Willow Tree. A two year construction period is anticipated following the award of contract.
The road is a strategic transport route connecting the Golden Highway (the west of the Shire - including Merriwa and Cassilis) - to the New England Highway.

The process to reconstruct the road is being managed by a Project Control Group which includes Transport for New South Wales (TfNSW) staff, Public Works Advisory, Infrastructure New South Wales (INSW) and Council staff. The Project Control Group has agreed on a Charter which outlines key staff members and their responsibilities
The detailed design will include a two lane road with a minimum 9 metre formation and 8 metre seal, as well as associated infrastructure such as guardrail, drainage structures etc.

The road currently has a 5 tonne load limit and a 10 metre length limit and is closed to one lane in sections. The restrictions for heavier and longer vehicles are in place to protect all road users, as the current available road formation is not suitable above the nominated limits and may accelerate the deterioration of the road. Further road deterioration may require the road to be closed.

Council have installed surveillance devices and traffic counters on MR358 to identify vehicles over the five tonne load limit using the route illegally. Public safety is Council’s top priority. Council staff are inspecting the road daily for deterioration, with more detailed inspections weekly and geotechnical specialists on site monthly.

Council has apologised that the road construction undertaken last year has not met the specifications, requiring the road to be redesigned and reconstructed.

To complete the road remediation, the Australian Government has provided a further $2M from the Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program and Council has a loan facility of up to $5M.