Work begins on City Road and Northcott Drive, Kahibah Road intersection upgrades

Contractors have started work to reconfigure the Northcott Drive and Kahibah Road intersections on City Road, also known as the Pacific Highway.

The upgrades to the Adamstown Heights and Highfields pinch points have been planned for several years.

Up to 6000 vehicles traverse City Road every hour in peak periods and Roads Minister Andrew Constance said the upgrades would improve traffic flow and safety at the two intersections.

"The NSW government is funding $13.5 million through the Hunter Pinch Points Program to ensure thousands of road users enjoy safer journeys on this vital link between Newcastle and Belmont," he said.

"Robson Civil Projects was awarded the contract for this important work earlier this year, creating between 20 and 30 local jobs during construction."

Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Taylor Martin said the upgrades would benefit both motorists and pedestrians travelling through the busy area.

"A new crossing is being built on Northcott Drive, with pedestrian-operated traffic lights, and other crossings will also receive much needed upgrades to improve safety for pedestrians in the area," Mr Martin said.

"A new footpath and safety fence will be built at the north-western corner of the intersection of City Road and Northcott Drive.

"The existing right-turn lanes on the highway will also be extended, and new left-turn lanes built into Kahibah Road and Northcott Drive.

"Pleasingly, an additional lane will also go in for traffic turning right out of Kahibah Road onto the highway, improving traffic flow and increasing safety for turning vehicles."

Charlestown MP Jodie Harrison said it was pleasing the work was underway.

"They've been planned for some time so it is good to see the works finally coming to fruition," she said. "There's been consultation with the community and now we're finally able to get on with fixing what is, part of, the big problem of City Road."

Work will be carried Monday to Friday between 7am and 6pm, and Saturdays between 8am and 1pm.

The government said the works would be completed by late 2022.

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