Smart road signs switched on across outback NSW

Thirteen new smart road signs are now operating across western and outback New South Wales, in a move the Minns Government said will make travel safer and more reliable.

The $1.7 million rollout is part of the Smarter Highways Program, bringing real-time road condition updates to some of the state’s most remote regions.

The solar-powered signs can be controlled remotely, replacing the need for crews to travel long distances to manually update information. The updates draw on live weather data and local reports, and appear instantly on Live Traffic NSW.

Minister for Roads and Regional Transport Jenny Aitchison said the technology delivers “high-tech safety to support regional and outback drivers,” adding that “knowing whether a road is open or closed before you set off can save hours or even save lives.”

Designed and built in New South Wales, the signs were installed across more than 30,000 square kilometres of isolated road network, expanding coverage to some of the state’s most unpredictable terrain.

Independent Member for Barwon Roy Butler welcomed the rollout, saying it is “a big win for people living, working and travelling across western NSW,” and that the signs will “take the uncertainty out of outback driving.”