FED: New bypass to create 360 kilometres of Hume freeway

AAP General News (Australia)
12-23-1998
FED: New bypass to create 360 kilometres of Hume freeway

CANBERRA, Dec 23 AAP - Work is to begin in February on the Bookham bypass, the missing link
in the 360 kilometre freeway from Sydney to Gundagai in southern NSW, Federal Transport
Minister John Anderson announced today.

Mr Anderson said the $64 million project should be completed by 2000, bringing nearer the
completion of a freeway-standard road along the entire length of the Hume Highway from Sydney
to Melbourne.

Mr Anderson said the bypass, to be built by Thiess Contractors, would eliminate a sweeping
bend and creek crossing, and the scene of a fatal accident just four months ago.

"While the accident generally has been attributed to atrocious windy and wet weather that
day, the highway at Bookham has a traffic accident rate 37 per cent higher than the national
highway average," Mr Anderson said in a statement.

"About 12,000 vehicles pass through Bookham daily. Almost one third of this number
comprises trucks and heavy vehicles."

Bookham is between Yass and Gundagai.

Completion of the bypass will make the entire 360 kilometre length of the Hume Highway from
Sydney to Coolac near Gundagai a freeway-standard road.

Mr Anderson today also announced a $33 million upgrade for the Barkly Highway between Mt
Isa and Cloncurry in north west Queensland.

The money will fund improvements along the 120 kilometre national highway over the next
three years, replacing the last section of narrow bitumen, and allowing for construction of
passing lanes and the removal of dangerous bends.

AAP ss/it

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