The Mitchell Highway is one of the electorate’s main thoroughfares and it is getting a $14.2 million boost this year.
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It is part of $38.5 million earmarked for the Orange electorate’s roads by Roads and Maritime Services.
About $3.35 million will be spent on a pavement upgrade 35-37 kilometres west of Orange, an intersection will be improved at the intersection with Pretty Plains Road for $600,000 and another $9.5 million is for the Guanna Hill realignment.
An overtaking lane heading towards Bathurst, east of Lucknow will be extended for $750,000.
Adam Hurford regularly travels the road on the way to play hockey in Bathurst, Lithgow and Sydney and welcomed the cash injection.
“Out west is getting busier and busier every year and more infrastructure investment will make it safer,” Mr Hurford said.
Mr Hurford said extending the lane would lead to a wider road, which would improve safety.
“I like to stay to the speed limit but you sometimes get people sticking right behind you, until the double lines end, and then they’re gone,” he said.
“Anything this side of the mountains is going to be good for us.”
Lucknow Skin Shop and Boot Barn owner Dianne Gee said an extended overtaking lane was a “terrific idea”.
“It will make it safer. Overtaking lanes are a terrific idea, especially when you have big trucks,” Mrs Gee said.
Mrs Gee said with extra traffic from visitors and residents, any improvements to the Mitchell Highway was welcome.
“A short overtaking lane increases the risks, if you have three vehicles, by the time you get to the end of a short overtaking lane, the traffic in the left lane is merging again.”
Driving instructor David Toomey from Doug’s Driving School said it was pleasing to see money for the highway.
“With all the extra trucks and B-doubles on the road now, it will make it easier to overtake,” Mr Toomey said.
“It will be a lot safer for people to get around and hopefully lead to fewer accidents and less aggravation.
“There’s not a lot of overtaking lanes between Orange and Bathurst so it will help.”