IT was with a sigh of relief that local businessman Tony Sneddon saw the first vehicles using the newly-completed upgrade to Dunolly Road.
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Singleton Council officially opened the $1.6 million upgrade to 940m of road on Wednesday.
The work funded through a NSW Government Resources for Regions grant and an interest-free loan secured in 2010 will, according to council, improve access from Singleton Heights to the Singleton town centre.
Unfortunately for Mr Sneddon, who operates Singleton Radiator Services at Dunolly, the seven months of road works that made public access to his business extremely difficult have caused him more than a few headaches.
“The contractors doing the work did their best but no one could get here easily, so yes it’s caused me some real concerns,” he said.
Now, he is hoping clients will return but it’s winter – hardly the busy season for radiator repairs.
“Plus I hope the better surface doesn’t lead to the road becoming a speedway,” he said.
The work included construction of a new shared cycleway on the western side of the road and improved stormwater flow from the road into the Hunter River.
The upgrade is the fourth and final stage of the project to improve the intersection of Bridgman Road and the New England Highway.
The latest works began in November but came to a halt after two weeks when a constructability performance review identified issues with the road sub-base.
Council approved a contract variation in December for an improved design and work on the project resumed in January.
Singleton Council’s general manager Lindy Hyam says completion of this final stage closes a project that began five years ago.
“The need for the upgrades was identified in a traffic and parking study undertaken by council in 2007 and has improved traffic flows at the busy intersection and road safety,” she says.
“The intersection, particularly at the height of the mining boom, was very busy and failed during peak times.
“To encourage future development in the Singleton Heights area it was vital that we improved traffic flow for those residents to travel down Bridgman Road to access the town centre.
“It is very pleasing to see this project now completed, along with a new shared pathway for pedestrians and cyclists, and connect our largest residential area to our largest business area.
“While the project did experience some delays, we’re confident that the revised design approved by council late last year has enhanced the condition and longevity of the road pavement and will provide a greater level of service for our residents.”
Speaking at the opening of the road, Ms Hyam said council was now starting work on Merrick Park to create an off the leash dog playground.
The park will be fenced and local dog owners, who have been waiting a long time for such a facility, will be able to take their dogs there and let them off their leashes, she said.