The state government will build a slip lane between Cessnock Road and the New England Highway and retain the Walker Street exit as part of its upgrade to the railway roundabout.
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Maitland MP Robyn Parker confirmed the government’s plans on Friday, which will see motorists able to exit onto Walker Street but not enter the roundabout from it.
Instead, motorists will have to drive 270 metres down Cessnock Road to a U-turn bay to re-enter the roundabout.
Work on the slip lane and U-turn bay will start in August.
Ms Parker said tenders for the design of the eastbound overpass would be sought this month and the environmental assessment and detailed plans needed to be finalised before construction could begin.
She expected work to start in late 2014 and finish in late 2015.
“The decision to make these options the final preferred designs was based on safety and traffic efficiency benefits, extensive community consultation and the long-term traffic network needs of Maitland,” Ms Parker said.
She said work would begin to install traffic lights at Johnson Street and improve pedestrian access around the hospital roundabout in August.
She confirmed the hospital roundabout would receive slip lanes on the New England Highway to cater for traffic turning into High and Bungaree streets, and traffic lights would be installed at the northern end of Johnson Street, which will also co-ordinate traffic from John Street.
The upgrade is expected to be finished by mid-2014.
“The plan shows the new traffic lights at the northern end of Johnson Street will link to the existing traffic lights at John Street, effectively operating as one set of lights and will provide a safer alternative exit for Johnson Street traffic during peak traffic times,” Ms Parker said.
The design options and assessment reports are available at www.rms.nsw.gov.au
