WHEN it comes to roadworks, Bathurst has hit the jackpot with the state government bankrolling a project that is set to cost 100 times more per kilometre than the resurfacing of the circuit at Mount Panorama.
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The woes that came during this year’s Great Race when the track broke up in several places have been well documented.
That project cost Bathurst Regional Council $2 million for the upgrade to the 6.213 kilometres of racing surface at the iconic circuit. However, compared to the estimated $85 million upgrade of a 2.4km section of the Great Western Highway at Kelso, the Mount Panorama project is in the little league.
According to Roads and Maritime Services (RMS), building work accounts for nearly two thirds of the project costs for the highway makeover.
“Other major costs are for utilities, design, acquisition and management of the project,” the RMS said in a statement.
The RMS also noted the $85 million upgrade is expected to be completed by the end of next year, weather permitting.
“The project involves rebuilding and widening the highway from Stockland Drive to just east of Ashworth Drive to provide a four lane divided road with a central concrete median.”
With work moving into full swing soon, the NSW Government has provided $22 million to get the ball rolling.
Burton Contractors won the tender for the upgrade, with major building works to include a new bridge over Boyd Creek and intersection upgrades at Boyd Street, View Street and Pat O’Leary Drive.
New roundabouts will be built at Littlebourne Street and Ashworth Drive as well as new pedestrian and cyclist access.
Bathurst Regional Council’s director of engineering services Doug Patterson said yesterday the two projects are so different that it’s impossible to make any comparisons.
“Resurfacing Mount Panorama was a pretty simple job compared to what is going to take place out at Kelso,” he said.
“The road at the circuit was already constructed and all the services were already in place. The highway at Kelso is a total reconstruction, from scratch.
“And you have to realise all the overhead services have to be relocated and put underground. There’s so much work to be done that you won’t even see.
“Then there’s the widening of the Raglan Creek Bridge and new roundabouts to consider. So, it’s just not about resurfacing like Mount Panorama. They are totally different projects.”
In the meantime, RMS are advising motorists of changed traffic conditions on the highway due to the work.
Initial work will involve installing concrete barriers to create a safe work space and surveying utilities, between 7am and 6pm from just west of Lee Street to just east of Ashworth Drive. New line marking will also be carried out at night in preparation for the start of major upgrade work.
