► RELATED:
A bypass for Scone and the continued upgrade of the Pacific Highway feature in the NSW Government's road spend including $500m promised to fix country roads.
The big ticket items include the completion of the Berry bypass and the Bomaderry-Berry upgrade on the Princes Highway ($137m) and completing all projects on the Pacific Highway between Port Macquarie and Glenugie near Grafton, and the planning of a Coffs Harbour bypass.
Also $200m is being provided to upgrade country bridges in the Bridges for the Bush program.
The government says in all it is providing $208m for major road upgrades in regional NSW. The Newell Highway will get $58m worth of upgrades, including realignments at Grong Grong and Trewilga.
There will be $49m for upgrades to Hunter roads, including $29m for a New England bypass at Scone. The government is also putting $5m towards planning a bypass at Parkes on the Newell.
In New England there will be a $17m spent with the federal government on the Bolivia Hill upgrade, in the Riverina, $22m will be spent to upgrade Gocup road. In the south among projects on the Kings Highway, $42 million will be spent on first sealing on Main Road 54 from Goulburn to Bathurst.
Roads Minister Melinda Pavey the budget showed the government's "commitment to both people living in regional and metropolitan areas." Mrs Pavey announced $282 million to improve road safety in NSW.
In rail, the government is upgrading its XPT services with new carriages and spending $19m on country rail investments, which includes supporting the Lower Hunter Freight Corridor and country rail infrastructure.
John Ellicott
journalist and author
journalist and author
