A NOTORIOUS black spot on the New England Highway will be fixed after $80 million in funding was delivered on Monday.
New England MP Barnaby Joyce said the money would go to the realignment of the three-kilometre Bolivia Hill section of the New England Highway, near Tenterfield.
Mr Joyce said the $80 million allocation, which was subject to a business case being prepared, had previously been promised by the former Labor government without a definitive funding source.
Mr Joyce said he had been working with Minister for Infrastructure Warren Truss to find money within to ensure the upgrade went ahead.
“The funding for the Bolivia Hill upgrade was gone,” Mr Joyce said.
“The previous government had left the federal budget in a parlous position and when I arrived into Canberra as the new Member for New England, we were told there was no money left in the budget.
“That’s why I am so pleased to announce that after a lot of conversations and representations with my colleagues, we have been able to secure this important funding.
“The money is now on the table. It will allow a route to be constructed that we all hope will reduce the number of accidents.
“It has to be among my proudest achievements as the newly elected member.”
