Sturt Highway
Following the upgrade works, Sturt Highway will provide a safe and smooth ride for Wagga Wagga road users. Credit: ScottDavis.

Upgrade works are due to start on the Sturt Highway in New South Wales (NSW), Australia.

The A$1.7m ($1.2m) project is intended to improve the road surface at Silvalite, between 3km and 5km west of Wagga Wagga.

Construction is being overseen by NSW’s Roads and Maritime Services (RMS).

NSW Legislative Council member Wesley Joseph Fang said: “The location at Wagga Wagga’s western entrance is a busy intersection, overlapping both the Sturt and Olympic highways, and is in need of improvements.

“The location at Wagga Wagga’s western entrance is a busy intersection, overlapping both the Sturt and Olympic highways, and is in need of improvements.”

“The upgrade will involve resurfacing the road surface with asphalt, improving kerb and medians and upgrading road markings.”

Lane closures will be in place during the upgrade works to help protect workers and motorists.

The 947km Sturt Highway serves as a key road link to transport passengers and freight between Sydney and Adelaide.

Construction started last month on the new Clarence Road rail bridge as part of NSW government’s A$95m ($68.5m) investment to upgrade the Great Western Highway and Bells Line of Road.

Bathurst member of parliament Paul Toole said that the upgrade will see the replacement of the existing bridge that was built in 1943.

RMS added that it intends to invite tenders for construction of the new bridge, with the aim of completing the project by 2020.