Great Western Highway upgrade: New avenue of trees between Raglan and Kelso

Bathurst MP Paul Toole said a new avenue of trees would be planted to replace the existing poplars, providing the town with a once-in-a-generation opportunity to widen the highway and provide a spectacular new green entry.

He said the iconic tree-lined avenue would be recreated using a variety of trees with strong seasonal change traits.

Native trees will also be planted along the boundary to Bathurst in combination with a welcome sign. Shade trees and park trees will also be planted along the Great Western Highway at Elmo Lavis Park.

"Transport for NSW has been working closely with local greening and historic groups as well as Bathurst Regional Council on the avenue of trees to ensure they're selected with future climate resilience in mind and strategically placed to improve road safety and reduce the likelihood of fallen limbs or trees disrupting highway traffic," Mr Toole said.

Greening Bathurst secretary Hugh Gould said while it would be hard to see the remainder of the poplar trees removed, it was for a greater good.

"The Raglan Hill conduit is the primary entrance to Bathurst and needs to make a statement to road users coming into our city," Mr Gould said.

"That message is that the people of Bathurst care about their city and the way it presents to the traveller. This new plan should do just that."

Transport for NSW will be removing trees in two stages.

Work to remove trees on the northern side of the highway will start on Monday, March 22 and trees on the southern side will be removed as part of stage two in mid-2022.

Work to remove the trees will be carried out from 6am to 6pm and take up to three days, weather permitting.

New plantings are likely to start in 2023 with the ongoing maintenance of the trees to be managed by Bathurst Regional Council.

There will be changed traffic conditions in place during the work.

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