Mr Albanese said the traffic switch was a major milestone for the federally funded project to duplicate 67 kilometres of the highway between the Sturt Highway and Table Top.

“I welcome the opening of the eight kilometres of new highway at Little Billabong, north of Holbrook and congratulate the Northern Hume Alliance for their commitment to this project.

“When complete, this $800 million upgrade will improve road safety and transport efficiency along this national highway.

Mr Daley said the new northbound lanes were now open to motorists and traffic was running smoothly under the new arrangements.

“Traffic in both directions has been switched on to the new carriageway, allowing work to start on the upgrade of the existing road, which will form the southbound lanes,” Mr Daley said.

“I’m pleased to report that the project is on track to be finished by the end of next year, delivering better conditions for communities and industries along this major freight route.

A member of a local farming family at Little Billabong, Margaret Shaw is relieved the duplication works has reached this milestone.

“We are lucky our section of the highway is the first to be completed. Both northbound and southbound traffic will use the new section of the highway while the old section is being reworked,” she said.

At times the changes to their entrance had been confusing and stressful with one serious collision suffered by a local family coming out of Wesby Road onto the highway.

The first lot of Glenelg land was sold for the highway about 12 years ago and the Shaws were sorry to have to sell some of their best lucerne country more recently but if it saves lives, Margaret considers, “it’s worth it.”

Through it all, the Shaws have had an excellent working relationship with Northern Hume Alliance and expect both lanes of the dual carriageway to be operating by June 2009.