The Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) is proposing a dual carriageway bypass of Holbrook to improve safety and transport efficiency. An environmental assessment of the benefits and potential impacts of the preferred option was on display for community comment from Wednesday 11 November 2009 to Monday 14 December 2009. The Holbrook bypass is funded by the Australian Government.
Potential impacts and environmental management
As part of the planning approval process an environmental assessment must be prepared and displayed under part 3A of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979. The environmental assessment examines the potential impacts of the project during construction and operation and the measures proposed to reduce and manage these impacts.
The assessment focuses on the key issues and for the Holbrook bypass, these include impacts on:
- Flora and fauna
- Aboriginal heritage
- Noise and vibration
- Social and economic
- Traffic and transport
Examples of environmental management measures that would be put in place to minimise impacts include:
- Limiting the extent of clearing, revegetating land and implementing erosion and sedimentation controls.
- Maintaining vegetation connectivity and installation of crossing measures for the safe movement of fauna across the highway.
- Landscape and urban design treatments to recognise Holbrook as a 'rest town'.
- Construction of water quality basins and other measures to treat run-off during construction and operation.
- Treatment to reduce noise impacts at selected locations which may include noise mounds, noise walls, low noise road surface or the individual treatment of homes.
- Modification of local roads and property accesses to ensure efficient access to and across the proposed upgrade.
The proposal
The Holbrook bypass would be approximately 9.5 kilometres long.
It would start four kilometres north of Holbrook where it would deviate west from the existing dual carriageways to cross Wagga Wagga Road.
The bypass would cross the former Town Common area, passing to the west of the cemetery, sewerage treatment works and industrial area and then cross Culcairn Road.
From Culcairn Road the bypass would cross Ten Mile Creek and rejoin the existing Hume Highway two kilometres south of Holbrook.
Key features of the proposed upgrade include:
- Four-lane divided carriageway with a 110km/h speed limit.
- A full-diamond interchange on Wagga Wagga Road with northbound and southbound on and off load ramps.
- A full-diamond southern interchange near the existing Hume Highway with southbound and northbound on and off load ramps.
- Twin bridges over Culcairn Road.
- Twin bridges over Ten Mile Creek.
- Landscape and urban design treatments to minimise visual impact and provide 'gateway' treatments to Holbrook.
- Environmental controls to minimise impacts on nearby waterways and natural areas.
Detailed reports available
The Holbrook Bypass Environmental Assessment, working papers and submissions report are available in the public information section of this website.
