NSW Roads Minister Duncan Gay has provided his Coalition counterpart Greg Aplin with a pre-election boost after guaranteeing $11 million towards a Riverina Highway upgrade.
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Mr Gay said the funding was “locked in” for improvements between Sandy Creek and Bethanga Bridge to be completed in two stages regardless of who won the state election in March.
The funding commitment is a relief for Mr Aplin, who has been under pressure from residents near Lake Hume and Albury Council for the improvements.
Mr Gay travelled on the section of the highway for the first time yesterday and conceded its “ordinariness” wasn’t exaggerated.
“It is not that hot,” he said.
“We are going to fix it and we are starting almost immediately.
“It needs a lot of work and it is not an insubstantial amount of money.
“It is from money we produced from the leasing of public assets earlier.
“This one is locked in.”
The $11 million price tag is below earlier estimates of $15 million for the upgrade, which will include road widening, expanded shoulders, resurfacing and additional guard rails.
The Riverina Highway improvement has been sharply in focus since its omission from the state budget last year.
On a post-budget visit to Albury, Premier Mike Baird committed $5 million to the project.
Mr Aplin was delighted with the backing from Mr Gay.
“This particular part was left incomplete and for many years I’ve been struggling to get this one completed,” he said.
“We’ve had patch jobs done, speed limits changed, but this is great news.”
The minister confirmed local companies would be able to tender for the work.
Albury mayor Kevin Mack attended the funding announcement yesterday and acknowledged the persistent lobbying of Mr Aplin.
“The community out here for a long time has expressed its concerns about this stretch of road,” he said.
“I only hope the $11 million equates to local employment and local contractors doing the work.”
Labor candidate Ross Jackson said the announcement was long overdue and wouldn’t have happened without public pressure.
“Pressure from the community and the Labor Party has fast tracked this,” he said.