Pacific Highway – Woolgoolga to Ballina

Project Description

This project will construct 155km of four-lane divided highway between the Arrawarra Interchange in the south and the Ballina Bypass in the north. The project includes upgrades of the existing northbound carriageways of the four-lane divided sections at Glenugie and Devils Pulpit and upgrades of the intersections at the existing four-lane divided section at Halfway Creek.

The upgrade is being delivered using a Tailored Delivery Partner model. Under this model, a major provider with design, building and management expertise has been engaged to oversee the project in collaboration with the NSW Roads and Maritime Services Pacific Highway Office.

Benefits

This project will complete the four-lane divided highway between Sydney and Brisbane, and result in a continuous four-lane divided road between Brisbane and Melbourne. The project will:

• Improve road safety by separating traffic and providing more rest opportunities for drivers;
• Enhance economic efficiency by reducing travel times and fuel costs for transport operators and for motorists during holiday periods; and
• Improve access and amenity for local residents through new interchanges and bypasses of towns along the route.

Funding

The Australian Government will provide 80 per cent of the cost of the project up to $3.46 billion.  The Australian and New South Wales governments are working together to finalise the cost of the project.

Timetable

The Department of the Environment granted approval for the Woolgoolga to Ballina section on 14 August 2014. Major construction commenced on 27 June 2015 and it is expected to be complete by 2020. All sections of the upgrade are underway.

Section 1, from Woolgoolga to Halfway Creek, and Section 2, from Halfway Creek to Glenugie, were the first sections completed, with both opening to traffic in late 2017.  

The Pacific Complete consortium (comprising Laing O'Rourke and Parsons Brinckerhoff) was awarded the contract for the delivery partner role on 19 June 2015.

Acciona Ferrovial Joint Venture was awarded the contract for the design and construction of the Clarence River bridge on 7 July 2016. This river crossing is also known as the Harwood bridge. Construction commenced on 15 August 2016.

Lendlease Engineering was awarded the contract to deliver the one-kilometre-long bridge over the Richmond River at Broadwater on 9 February 2017. Investigation work commenced in April 2017 and permanent works in October 2017.

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