A $6.3 million upgrade of Wybong Road near Sandy Hollow is underway, delivering safer and more reliable travel for residents in the Upper Hunter. The regional route, located around 33 kilometres west of Muswellbrook, carries about 1,800 vehicles each day and is a vital link for Denman, Merriwa and surrounding rural communities.
The project will widen and reshape the road, install a new box culvert across Pheeneys Creek, and add new safety barriers, line marking and signage. It is designed to improve flood immunity, reducing closures during severe weather and strengthening a key connection for local residents and freight operators.
Construction begins today, with daytime stop‑and‑go traffic control in place and a speed limit of 40 kilometres an hour. Both lanes will remain open at night with a reduced speed of 60 kilometres an hour. A full road closure will begin after Easter for 13 weeks, with a detour along Reedy Creek Road, which has already been upgraded to accommodate oversize vehicles.
Minister for the Hunter Yasmin Catley said the upgrade would make a significant difference for families, farmers and businesses who use the road every day.
“For those living and working in Denman, Merriwa and the surrounding rural areas, these roads aren’t optional extras. They are part of everyday life, connecting people to jobs, schools, services and each other,” she said.
“Some of the Hunter’s most picturesque and proudly regional communities are linked by stretches of road that have been neglected for far too long. That puts pressure on families, businesses and farmers who rely on them daily.”
Work is expected to be completed by July 2026, weather permitting, with construction occurring on weekdays and every second weekend.
