Work has started to deliver $36 million in road safety improvements on the Snowy Mountains Highway between the Hume Highway and the Princes Highway.
Jointly funded by the Albanese and Minns Labor governments under the Road Safety Program, the first of four projects stretching almost the full 330-kilometre length of the Snowy Mountains Highway will start in April with all projects expected to be completed by mid-2026.
The Snowy Mountains Highway is an important freight and tourism link, connecting regional NSW with the South Coast, and the local timber industry with the Hume Highway and ports of Sydney and Melbourne.
Multiple safety treatments will be installed at various points along the highway including audio tactile line marking (also known as rumble strips), widened centre line and safety barriers, and roadside hazards will be removed.
Later this year, Transport for NSW will also start work on upgrades to the intersection of Black Creek Road, west of Adelong, by realigning tight radius curves, widening shoulders, improving drainage and installing new safety barriers.
Work on the first two projects that form part of the $36 million package of work has started with the other two projects set to be carried out later this year, weather permitting.
Safety improvements on the way for the Snowy Mountains Highway start:
- Monday 7 April between Monaro Highway and the Princes Highway
- Monday 7 April between Tumut and Cooma
- From mid-May between the Hume Highway and Tumut
- From October at Sandy Gully (Black Creek Road intersection)
The community will be notified of any changes to the work schedule as work progresses.
For more information, visit the Snowy Mountains Highway web page or download the Live Traffic NSW app.
Member for Eden-Monaro, Kristy McBain said:
"The Snowy Mountains Highway is busier than ever, as more people move to our region, and as more visitors come and experience everything that the mighty Eden-Monaro has to offer - which is why we're committed to making this critical road network safer.
"I'm really proud to have secured $36 million with the Minns Labor Government to deliver these improvements - and it's fantastic to see this work progressing."
NSW Minister for Roads and Minister for Regional Transport, Jenny Aitchison said:
"The Snowy Mountains Highway is a key priority for the Minns Labor Government and with the Albanese Labor Government we are investing $36 million to make it safer.
"Regional NSW is home to one-third of the NSW population, but accounts for nearly two-thirds of road fatalities in the state. Our goal is simple: everyone on our roads should return home safely to their loved ones. This investment is a crucial step toward making that a reality."
Member for Monaro, Steve Whan, said:
"Safety barriers have been found to reduce the severity of run-off road crashes and will go a long way to improving safety on the Snowy Mountains Highway.
"I am pleased to see the state and federal Labor teams working together to deliver a $36 million safety boost for the Highway.
"It builds great confidence knowing we have a local federal member like Kristy McBain who advocates so strongly for our region and delivers results like this."
Member for Bega, Dr Michael Holland said:
"Audio tactile line marking, or rumble strips, alert a driver through noise and vibration that they are drifting off the carriageway and have been found to reduce the crash risk by 10-25 per cent for off-carriageway and head-on crashes.
"The $36 million investment we are making will help more motorists get home safer and protect our communities.
Independent Member for Wagga Wagga, Dr Joe McGirr, said:
"We need to do all we can to reduce the risk of trauma on our roads, so I welcome theimprovements to the highway east of Tumut and at Black Creek Road, which have both been identified as high-risk sections.
"I have been advocating on behalf of community members concerned about the state of some parts of the Snowy Mountains Highway and I'm very pleased that the state and federal governments are now working together to address these concerns."
