Engineering and cost challenges associated with the construction of the Lower Hunter freight bypass mean Newcastle's most notorious congestion hotspot, Adamstown gates, will remain for some time yet.
NSW Premier Chris Minns agreed this week that the 30 kilometre bypass between Fassifern and Hexham was a major piece of regional infrastructure that would eventually need to be built.
While the government has secured the corridor and done early planning work, construction won't be starting any time soon.
"It's a massive project. The engineering solution for it is expensive and it will take a long time to complete," Mr Minns told the Newcastle Herald.
"I don't think we should turn our back on it or anything like that because you have to have long-range plans for fast-growing communities and that's what the Hunter is."
The freight bypass is unanimously supported by the region's MPs and business community.
The 2018 Future Transport 2056 strategy identified a potential window of between 10 to 20 years to deliver the project.
However this appears to have slipped.
The strategy also pointed to growth in rail freight in coming decades.
"The forecast growth in rail freight along the corridor between Fassifern and Newcastle is expected to drive demand for an additional 66 freight train paths per week in both directions over the next 36 years," the document says.
In the short term, new electronic signs will be installed on the approaches to the Adamstown railway crossing.
The advance warning system will let drivers know when a slow-moving freight or coal train is approaching so they can take an alternative route along Park Avenue or Lambton Road.
An overpass or underpass has previously been suggested as a solution to the congestion hotspot, but it is unlikely such a project would ever eventuate because it would require the acquisition of a significant amount of private property near the crossing and cost hundreds of millions of dollars.
Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp said he would continue to push for solutions to improve congestion at the Adamstown gates.
"I continue to advocate to progress the Lower Hunter Freight Corridor," he said.
"Delays at the Adamstown railway crossing have been an ongoing issue for my community. Both long and short-term solutions are a priority for me."
Mr Minns said this week's funding agreement for Tomago Aluminium, which will involve NSW contributing half of the $2.5 billion package over the next decade, would help facilitate longer-term government planning for the Hunter.
"In the long run we need the time and space to make decisions about the Hunter," he said.
"This (Tomago) is a big piece of that jigsaw puzzle. Now it is in place, the funding is secured and our commitment is capped, we have opportunities for longer-range investments."
