If you've checked out Google Maps lately, you will have noticed the entire route of the Parkes bypass can now be seen.
Both the standard view (though not on all PCs) and the satellite view show the new section of the Newell Highway, two kilometres west of its original location that ran through the centre of town.
It begins and ends between Maguire Road to the north and Barkers Road to the south, a total length of 10.5 kilometres.
It has a roundabout at Condobolin Road - the largest in the Central West - that's now open to traffic travelling between Condobolin and Parkes and two new bridges that will hopefully be in use soon.
Now Transport for NSW is preparing for permanent road closures and changed traffic conditions.
Sections of Thomas Street and Moulden Street will be permanently closed from Wednesday, February 5 as part of the bypass project.
With the $287.2 million bypass on track to be finished by mid-2025, weather permitting, the following traffic changes are planned to take place from February 5:
• Thomas Street will be permanently closed between Moulden Street and Reedsdale Road.
• Moulden Street between Condobolin Road and Back Trundle Road will be permanently closed.
• Ross Road will be reopened.
• Traffic going to and from Back Trundle Road can use Ross Road and Condobolin Road.
• The Over Sized Over Mass (OSOM) route for vehicles wider than 3.5 metres will be via Condobolin Road or Hartigan Avenue. Additional OSOM vehicle access will be via Victoria Street and McGlynn Street.
• A section of Condobolin Road between Ross Road and Hartigan Avenue will be reduced to a single lane under stop/slow traffic control while Condobolin Road continues to be upgraded.
For the safety of workers and road users, intermittent stopping and a reduced speed limit of 40 km/h will be in place on roads adjacent to the project which may affect travel times.
Transport for NSW Acting Director West Holly Davies thanked motorists and the public for their patience during the work.
“The 10.5-kilometre bypass will deliver better trips for all road users when it’s finished, by reducing travel time, improving pedestrian access through Parkes and easing traffic flow in and around the town,” Ms Davies said.
“A number of key milestones have been achieved recently marking major steps towards the project’s completion.”
In October and November, the two bridges being built for the bypass both moved closer to carrying traffic when six girders that support each bridge deck were lifted into place.
Ongoing work on both bridges includes earthworks to the approaches, asphalting, linemarking and the installation of concrete parapets with steel safety barriers, while the Victoria Street bridge will receive a concrete deck pour.
Earthworks, drainage and pavement construction have now been completed for most of the bypass while final asphalting and line marking on pavements are expected to be finished in March, weather permitting.
Other ongoing work along the bypass alignment includes street signage installation, grass seeding and landscape planting.
“All the elements of the Parkes Bypass project continue to come together and the day when road safety, travel times and freight efficiency will all be improved is rapidly approaching,” Ms Davies said.
The Australian Government is contributing $229.76 million to the $287.2 million Parkes Bypass project, with the remaining contribution being made by the NSW Government.
Information on the Parkes Bypass project can be found at www.transport.nsw.gov.au/projects/current-projects/parkes-bypass.