Newell Highway Upgrade Complete Between Narrabri and Moree
Image Credit: Joseph two
Media Release: The Hon Catherine King MP, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government; The Hon Jenny Aitchison MP, Minister for Roads, Minister for Regional Transport; Glenn Sterle, Senator for Western Australia; Roy Butler, Member for Barwon
The three-year upgrade of the Newell Highway between Narrabri and Moree is now complete, delivering major improvements to one of regional New South Wales’ most important freight routes.
Funded jointly by the Australian and NSW Governments, the $261.17 million Newell Highway Heavy Duty Pavement Upgrade has transformed over 20 kilometres of road. The project included intersection upgrades, widened shoulders, and five new overtaking lanes to improve safety and traffic flow.
Works were delivered across four priority sections:
8 km south of Moree, including a new culvert at Clarks Gully and intersection upgrades at Burrington Road, Tapscott Road, and Wallanol Road.
4.4 km around Bellata, with upgrades to Temi Road, North Street, Wilga Street, and Oak Street,
5.6 km around Edgeroi, including the Smithfeild Lane intersection.
2.6 km north of Narrabri, with a new culvert at Murrumbilla Lane.
The final piece of the project is the new Spring Creek Rest Area, now the largest heavy vehicle rest stop in the north-west region. It offers short and long-term parking for up to 18 heavy vehicles, plus dedicated spaces for light vehicles and those towing caravans or trailers. Amenities include accessible toilets, picnic, shelters, bins, solar lighting, and over 500 newly planted trees for shade.
Construction crews used significant resources, including 3900 cubic metres of structural concrete, 8900 tonnes of asphalt, 700 tonnes of steel, and 575,000 tonnes of pavement material and gravel. Despite losing 118 days to bad weather, the project remained on track.
Minor finishing works such as fencing, signage, and final sealing are scheduled for early 2026.
