NICB Myall Road to McCaffrey Drive

[Dean Sherry]

Does anyone know whether there are any plans to upgrade the NICB between Myall Road and McCaffrey Drive, since it will be the only section that is not fully grade-separated once the Rankin Park to Jesmond section opens.  I don't live in Newcastle but I have a feeling there will be major congestion unless the road is upgraded.

[Sam L]

The only upgrade I have seen mentioned is creating a third lane southbound from McCaffrey Drive to Cardiff Road to join the existing left turn trap lane that goes to Carnley Ave: https://newcastleweekly.com.au/newcastle-inner-city-bypass-eyes-off-mid-2026-completion-date/

I don't think the Rankin Park to Jesmond project will change northbound traffic conditions too much in this area, but southbound will certainly feel a fair bit more congested as Cardiff Road will be the first set of lights, so the filtering of traffic caused by the existing lights on Lookout Road and Croudace Street will be reduced. 

Since the cancellation of the 'freeway' alignment through Blackbutt Reserve in the 1970s I haven't see any plans released publicly for upgrades beyond the current at-grade intersections. Pretty sure some of the media releases for RP to Jesmond were also touting the project as being the 'completion' of the NICB. 

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From: 'Dean Sherry' via Aussie Highways <aussie-...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, 6 May 2026 5:27 PM
To: Aussie Highways <aussie-...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: [Aussie Highways] NICB Myall Road to McCaffrey Drive

 

[Michael Faria]

The section was built with three lane carriageways and a median wide enough for one turning lane. The only work required is repainting the shoulder as a third lane and reversing modifications done in the 2000's at the intersections of Carnley Ave, Peatties Rd and Kimbarra Ave.

[Michael Faria]

For capacity it'd be necessary to widen the road at Carnley Ave in order to provide multiple turn lanes and also desirable to do the same at Cardiff Rd and to widen both beyond their current boundaries on approach to the NICB.

[Lachlan Sims]

North and south of Carnley Ave there are quite a few residential properties still with direct frontage to the ICB thoroughfare (Charlestown Road) as well as a couple of local residential streets that are "no through roads" only accessible off Charlestown Road.  There's sufficient space for a future grade separation of the Carnley Ave intersection and the extension of Carnley Ave west to Main Road/Cardiff Road.  I think some of the properties may already be owned by TfNSW, but the number of remaining residential properties to resume would add significantly to the cost to what would otherwise be a relatively easy upgrade.

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[Dean Sherry]

I did a quick mock-up of what an interchange at Carnley Ave might look like:

 

[Sam L]

Something like this would do the job and is along the lines of what was planned in the distant past. Some of the houses could be provided access via a service road arrangement but some would have to go.

The houses along the road that don't have alternative access could be retained for some time and then eventually resumed and demolished if it is ever justified to turn it into a full motorway.

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From: 'Dean Sherry' via Aussie Highways <aussie-...@googlegroups.com>

Sent: Thursday, 7 May 2026 6:55 PM
To: Aussie Highways <aussie-...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: [Aussie Highways] NICB Myall Road to McCaffrey Drive

 

[Michael Faria]

Carnley Ave can be passed under NICB and connected to Main Rd, also allowing Peatties Rd to be disconnected from NICB, as has already been mentioned. I would also suggest that Kimbarra Ave can be connected to either Lynette Pl or Grinsell St at the cost of at most two houses demolished. A two-lane service road running from Grandview Rd to Carnley Ave would connect all of the western side roads and properties.

It also has to be considered that Carnley Ave and Myall Rd are only 900 m from one another and the north facing ramps at Carnley Ave would be a pain with the steep grade and land take.

[Sam L]

I guess you could argue a northbound on-ramp isn't required at Carnley Ave as the same function could be achieved using Main Road/Cardiff Rd, however a southbound off-ramp is definitely required otherwise that traffic would need to turn right at-grade across the NICB at Cardiff Rd. 

A northbound off-ramp to Carnley Ave would definitely be required regardless of the spacing with Myall Rd. 

I don't think it's possible to build a two-lane service road running from Grandview Road to Carnley Ave without demolishing half of the properties on the western side of Lookout Rd, at which point you might as well buy the rest and then the service road is no longer required. At best you could squeeze the median into a jersey barrier to achieve 3 northbound lanes plus a parking lane/shoulder for the properties on the western side.

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From: aussie-...@googlegroups.com <aussie-...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Michael Faria <michael....@gmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, 7 May 2026 9:41 PM

To: Aussie Highways <aussie-...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: [Aussie Highways] NICB Myall Road to McCaffrey Drive

Carnley Ave can be passed under NICB and connected to Main Rd, also allowing Peatties Rd to be disconnected from NICB, as has already been mentioned. I would also suggest that Kimbarra Ave can be connected to either Lynette Pl or Grinsell St at the cost of at most two houses demolished. A two-lane service road running from Grandview Rd to Carnley Ave would connect all of the western side roads and properties.

It also has to be considered that Carnley Ave and Myall Rd are only 900 m from one another and the north facing ramps at Carnley Ave would be a pain with the steep grade and land take.

On Thursday, May 7, 2026 at 10:36:20 PM UTC+10 Sam L wrote:

Something like this would do the job and is along the lines of what was planned in the distant past. Some of the houses could be provided access via a service road arrangement but some would have to go.

The houses along the road that don't have alternative access could be retained for some time and then eventually resumed and demolished if it is ever justified to turn it into a full motorway.

---

From: 'Dean Sherry' via Aussie Highways <aussie-...@googlegroups.com>

Sent: Thursday, 7 May 2026 6:55 PM
To: Aussie Highways <aussie-...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: [Aussie Highways] NICB Myall Road to McCaffrey Drive

 

I did a quick mock-up of what an interchange at Carnley Ave might look like:

 

On Thursday, May 7, 2026 at 7:42:59 PM UTC+10 Lachlan Sims wrote:

North and south of Carnley Ave there are quite a few residential properties still with direct frontage to the ICB thoroughfare (Charlestown Road) as well as a couple of local residential streets that are "no through roads" only accessible off Charlestown Road.  There's sufficient space for a future grade separation of the Carnley Ave intersection and the extension of Carnley Ave west to Main Road/Cardiff Road.  I think some of the properties may already be owned by TfNSW, but the number of remaining residential properties to resume would add significantly to the cost to what would otherwise be a relatively easy upgrade.

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[Daniel Knott]

I drew this up a while ago too

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[Michael Faria]

I figured the route was going to be shifted eastward in order to provide a 90 km/h alignment and therefore the western service road would have room and leave the properties undisturbed.