New Smart Highway to Help with Traffic

ABC Upper Hunter

Roads

Saturday, 8 August 2026, 12:21 pm

The Golden Highway is important for the Central West Orana Renewable Energy Zone.

In short:

People are worried about safety because of heavy traffic.

New technology will help by slowing down traffic on the highway.

What's next?

The new system will be tested on the Golden Highway for a year.

Cassilis is a small town with traffic problems.

Local woman Jane Hegarty says the traffic is getting worse.

There are more big trucks on the road, making it more dangerous.

Jane Hegarty is frustrated with the traffic increase.

The main reason for the traffic is the renewable energy project.

Parts for the project come from the Port of Newcastle and go through Cassilis.

The Golden Highway is the main road from Newcastle to Dubbo.

Now, 30% of the traffic on this road is heavy trucks.

People are worried because this is before the peak construction time.

Wind turbine parts need to be delivered from the Port of Newcastle.

New smart highway technology is being tested to help with traffic.

The Rural Intersection Speed Zone system slows down traffic on the highway.

This system has been installed on the Golden Highway at Cassilis.

The system lowers the speed limit when a vehicle is turning.

First of its kind

This is the first time this system is being tested in NSW.

The system uses radar to detect vehicles and warn other drivers.

It will warn drivers on the highway when a vehicle is turning.

The system is powered by solar energy.

It helps big, slow vehicles merge safely into traffic.

Similar technology is used in Victoria, but this is customized.

This system is designed for the intersection at Cassilis.

There are many heavy vehicles in this area for the energy project.

There have been three serious crashes in the last five years.

This is the first time this system is being tested in NSW.

'Generational investment'

The minister says the system will help keep traffic moving.

The government has invested $128 million in the Golden Highway.

The minister wants speed zones that fit the traffic needs.

The Golden Highway is important for the state's energy transition.

The government is doing significant upgrades on the Golden Highway.

The upgrades will be a long-term investment in the road network.

The community will benefit from the improved road network.

Locals are noticing more traffic for the renewable energy project.

Jane Hegarty is not sure if the system will be effective.

She thinks it might be a way to avoid building turning lanes.

It will be interesting to see if the system prevents accidents.

The system will be tested for 12 months.

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