Leighton Contractors has been awarded a contract  with the Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) to create the Tarcutta Hume Alliance which will deliver the Tarcutta Bypass Project in southern NSW. The Tarcutta Hume Alliance, which includes the RTA, Maunsell Australia, SMEC Australia and Coffey Geotechnics, will design and build a 7km dual carriageway bypass to the west of the town of Tarcutta as part of Hume Highway upgrade.

The Tarcutta bypass will be approximately seven kilometres long, and will join the Hume Highway carriageway north of Tarcutta and head south, generally retaining the existing Hume Highway. The bypass will then deviate to the west, skirting the boundary of the Tarcutta cemetery before crossing Tarcutta Creek. The alignment will then turn to the east at the southern end of the village of Tarcutta and cross over the existing highway to the north of Mates Gully Road intersection. The bypass will then continue on the eastern side of the existing highway just north of Humula Road. Continuing south the bypass will cross over Keajura Creek and then join the existing dual carriageway south of Humula Road.

• four-lane divided carriageway with a wide median and a 110km/h speed limit
• a northern interchange near Mate Street with northbound on-load and southbound off-load ramps
• a southern interchange near Humula Road with northbound off-load and southbound on-load ramps
• twin bridges over Tarcutta and Keajura creeks
• a local service road to access properties to the west of the highway between the northern interchange and Tarcutta
• landscape and urban design treatments to minimise visual impact; and
• environmental controls to minimise impacts on nearby waterways and natural areas.

• removal of many heavy vehicles from residential and shopping areas of Tarcutta
• improved pedestrian safety along the current Hume Highway route through Tarcutta
• reduced traffic noise for residents and businesses, particularly at night; and
• travel time and fuel savings for vehicles moving between Sydney and Melbourne.