Stage three of the project was opened on Thursday with incoming Orange mayor Jason Hamling and new NSW Minister for Regional Transport Sam Farraway officiating alongside member for Orange Phil Donato and Orange High School captain Ella Lamrock.

Ms Lamrock was standing in for member for Calare Andrew Gee who is in isolation waiting for a test result after being a close COVID-19 contact.

It was a personal milestone for Cr Hamling and Mr Farraway, who were officiating for the first time in their new roles.

"It's been a long time coming," Cr Hamling said referring to the two kilometre stretch of road from the Mitchell Highway turn off from the former Dairy Creek Road to Elsham Avenue.

Cr Hamling said the stage represented a good collaboration between the three tiers of government.

Work on the $7.5million stage three leg of the SFR began in June 2020 with the State and Federal Government contributing $3 million and Orange City Council adding the balance.

Mr Farraway said he had spoken to freight operators who were now better connected to Leewood Industrial estate from the Mitchell Highway while the commute to Cadia was also easier.

"But also I've heard from paramedics who used Dairy Creek Road, that use this vital arterial road to get to the Orange Health Service. This is a really important piece of infrastructure," he said.

"This road is a really vital."

Traffic has been using the completed section, to be known as Blowes Road according to a report in 2019, since late June with the exception of the eastern end which was opened to traffic last week.

When completed, stage four of the SFR will carry traffic from the southern end of Anson Street through to Pinnacle Road via Park Road, joining Pinnacle Road at the south east corner of Towac Park.

Stage five will continue west, passing the southern portion of the Towac Park before turning north on to Ploughmans Lane to intersect with Canobolas Road. Stage six is expected to continue along Ploughmans Lane to Cargo Road. The next stages will eventually link with the Escort Way.

Based on the traffic that passed yesterday's opening, the SFR is already living up to 2018 traffic modelling which forecast 2824 vehicles would use stage one daily which has been confirmed since its opening.

Modelling suggests that once the SFR is complete, it will be used by 7661 vehicles daily.

"This a crucial piece of infrastructure which links the Mitchell Highway with key health and industry precincts. It lets business operate more efficiently," Cr Hamling said.

"It also lets local residents move quickly from one side of Orange to another, without being slowed down by traffic in the middle of town. I'm already hearing from local residents who have started to use the road how much they're appreciating driving from the highway through to the top of Anson street."

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:

HAVE YOUR SAY

Send a letter to the editor using the form below