Maximising safety and efficiency are just two of the reasons Federal Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King gave for the establishment of the four new Pilliga overtaking lanes.

“Building overtaking lanes in pairs, as we’ve been able to do through the Pilliga, means we can maximise efficiencies in terms of the environmental and geotechnical investigations we carry out at each site, establishing one site compound instead of two and savings in terms of construction time and traffic control," she said.

“With all eight overtaking lanes now completed, road users have an extra 12 kilometres of overtaking opportunities between Coonabarabran and Narrabri.”

The overtaking lanes have been completed as part of a four-year project to build about 60 kilometres of new overtaking lanes between Tocumwal in the south of the state and Narrabri in the north.

The completion of 38 new overtaking lanes along the full length of the Newell Highway aims to deliver faster and safer journeys for residents, tourists and freight operators travelling in regional NSW.

Eight of the new overtaking lanes have been built between Coonabarabran and Narrabri. They are now open at:

• Pilliga east: About 15 kilometres north of Coonabarabran.
• Dandry: About 30 kilometres north of Coonabarabran.
• Near the Pilliga Rest Area: About 63 kilometres north of Coonabarabran.
• Near the Sir William Bridges Rest Area: About 24 kilometres south of Narrabri.

“As well as new overtaking lanes, the NHPA has also delivered six road safety improvements along sections of the Highway including wider shoulders and centre lines to reduce off-road and head-on crashes, and the installation of audio tactile line marking (rumble strips) on the edges and centre of the highway," NSW Regional Transport and Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison said.

Most of the new overtaking lanes are at least 1.5 kilometres long with the longest overtaking lane – at Tap Hill north of Gilgandra, measuring almost four times that. The 5.7-kilometre giant new lane was formed by closing the gap between two existing northbound overtaking lanes.

Ms Aitchison said long distances are a fact of life in rural and regional NSW and the safety of all road users is a number one priority.

“The incredible work completed on the Newell Highway over the past four years will ensure more road users make it home safely to their family and friends,” she said.

State Member for Barwon Roy Butler said opening of the new infrastructure meant a significant improvement in safety along the Newell Highway and a significant reduction in time for people using the road.

“This will translate to savings for people who travel regularly along the highway, also lowering costs for people transporting produce or livestock along that route," he said.