The final section of the Newcastle Inner City Bypass – Rankin Park to Jesmond project has marked a significant milestone this week, with traffic switched on to the new alignment at the Jesmond roundabout.

From Tuesday 17 December, motorists will be switched from the Jesmond roundabout at Newcastle Road to a signalised intersection beneath the future bypass.

The traffic switch will form part of the final road alignment as part of the Rankin Park to Jesmond project, which will improve safety and traffic flow and reduce travel times.

The traffic switch will be carried out in stages to allow the community to experience these changes in smaller stages rather than one sweeping change. The changes will take place throughout December 2024 and then into January 2025.

Motorists should follow directional signage when moving through the new signalised intersection with various speed restrictions in place during the adjustment period.

This fifth section of the project is a key route connecting the western suburbs of Newcastle. It has a total project cost of $488.2 million with $390.56 million from the Albanese Labor Government and $97.64 million from the Minns Labor Government.

Once complete, the bypass will provide faster and more reliable journeys for motorists while improving safety on the surrounding road network with the number of crashes predicted to fall by about 30 per cent.

Quotes attributed to Federal Member for Newcastle Sharon Claydon:

“This is an exciting day for Newcastle motorists and future visitors as we move closer to the completion of a project that will transform the way people travel to, from and around the region. 

“The switch from a roundabout to a signalised intersection at Jesmond will improve the safety and efficiency of this intersection, as well as significantly reduce travel times for the 40,000 to 60,000 motorists which use this route daily.

“I know Novocastrians will be so pleased to see this milestone reached and I look forward to the entire project being completed by the end of next year.

Quotes attributed to State Member for Wallsend Sonia Hornery:

“The Newcastle Inner City Bypass will provide traffic relief for the local community by removing up to 30,000 vehicles each day from the existing route of Lookout Road, Croudace Street and Newcastle Road.

“These roads are currently being used by about 40,000 to 60,000 vehicles each day so once complete, local motorists, commuters and the freight industry will experience safer and smoother journeys.”