The Barton Hwy safety upgrades project team, a part of Roads and Maritime Services’ (RMS), has been bringing locals up to speed at the Murrumbateman and Yass markets.

Stage one of the project will duplicate the highway between Hall and Kaveneys Rd in Jeir, south of Murrumbateman. This area currently has higher traffic volumes and a higher crash rate.

The existing highway will become the southbound carriageway and the new lanes will be the northbound carriageway.

RMS is still carrying out investigation work, such as environmental and archaeological assessments for stage one to start, but hopes to award a tender for construction in early 2019.

The impact of stage one construction is yet to be determined, but could include temporary closures of traffic lanes, changes to accesses at intersections and driveways and reduced speed limits.

Drivers will be advised of changed traffic conditions during construction.

Stage two construction will duplicate the Barton Hwy from Kaveneys Rd to Murrumbateman and will happen once stage one is completed.

An exact time frame hasn’t yet been given, although the total project should take four years, funded by $100 million from the federal and state governments ($50m each).

RMS said the upgrade should improve journey reliability and driver safety, ease congestion and boost freight productivity.