NSW Snowy Mountains Highway safety improvement works now underway

Works are now underway on $36 million worth of road safety improvements on the Snowy Mountains Highway between Hume Highway and the Princes Highway in New South Wales. 

The upgrades are being delivered as part of the Albanese and Minns Labor Governments’ Road Safety Program. 

The Snowy Mountains Highway is a vital freight and tourism link that connects regional New South Wales with the South Coast as well as the local timber industry with the Hume Highway and ports of Sydney and Melbourne. 

“The Snowy Mountains Highway is busier than ever before, as more people move to our region, and as more visitors come and experience everything that the mighty Eden-Monaro has to offer – which is why we’re committed to making this critical road network safer. 

“I’m really proud to have secured $36 million with the Minns Labor Government to deliver these improvements – and it’s fantastic to see this work progressing,” Member for Eden-Monaro Kristy McBain said. 

“The Snowy Mountains Highway is a key priority for the Minns Labor Government and with the Albanese Labor Government we are investing $36 million to make it safer. 

“Regional NSW is home to one-third of the NSW population, but accounts for nearly two-thirds of road fatalities in the state. Our goal is simple: everyone on our roads should return home safely to their loved ones. This investment is a crucial step towards making that a reality,” NSW Minister for Roads and Minister for Regional Transport Jenny Aitchison said. 

Snowy Mountains Highway map (source: Transport for NSW)

The road safety improvements will be carried out through four projects, stretching almost the full 330-kilometre length of the Snowy Mountains Highway. This includes: 

• From 7 April – between Monaro Highway and the Princes Highway 

• From 7 April – between Tumut and Cooma 

• From mid-May – between the Hume Highway and Tumut 

• From October – at Sandy Gully (Black Creek Road intersection) 

These projects will involve the installation of several safety treatments at various points along the highway, including audio tactile line marking or rumble strips, widened centre line and safety barriers. Meanwhile, roadside hazards will be removed. 

Works on the Black Creek Road, west of Adelong, will include realignment of tight radius curves, shoulder widening, improved drainage and installation of new safety barriers. 

All four projects are expected to be completed by mid-2026. 

Transport for NSW will provide updates to the community of any changes to the work schedule as the projects progress. 

“Safety barriers have been found to reduce the severity of run-off road crashes and will go a long way to improving safety on the Snowy Mountains Highway. 

“I am pleased to see the state and federal Labor teams working together to deliver a $36 million safety boost for the Highway. 

“It builds great confidence knowing we have a local federal member like Kristy McBain who advocates so strongly for our region and delivers results like this,” Member for Monaro Steve Whan said. 

“Audio tactile line marking, or rumble strips, alert a driver through noise and vibration that they are drifting off the carriageway and have been found to reduce the crash risk by 10-25 per cent for off-carriageway and head-on crashes. 

“The $36 million investment we are making will help more motorists get home safer and protect our communities,” Member for Bega Dr Michael Holland said. 

“We need to do all we can to reduce the risk of trauma on our roads, so I welcome the improvements to the highway east of Tumut and at Black Creek Road, which have both been identified as high-risk sections. 

“I have been advocating on behalf of community members concerned about the state of some parts of the Snowy Mountains Highway and I’m very pleased that the state and federal governments are now working together to address these concerns,” Independent Member for Wagga Wagga Dr Joe McGirr said. 

Source: NSW Government – Media Releases; Transport for NSW (1, 2); Roads & Infrastructure Australia