Another section of the Pacific Highway upgrade has opened between Halfway Creek and Glenugie, with traffic moved onto 11 kilometres of new lanes.
Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Darren Chester said the Pacific Highway upgrade was Australia’s largest regional road infrastructure project.
“The Australian Government has committed $5.64 billion to upgrade the Pacific Highway and this investment is already paying dividends, with fatalities on the highway halving,” Mr Chester said.
New South Wales Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight Melinda Pavey said motorists travelling the length of the Pacific Highway were already saving over an hour and three quarters in travel time.
“The next stage of the Woolgoolga to Ballina project, the 14-kilometre Woolgoolga to Halfway Creek section, will open to traffic later this year, with time savings for the entire highway length to the tune of two and half hours expected upon overall completion in 2020,” Mrs Pavey said.
Federal Member for Page Kevin Hogan said over the next six months, about 83 kilometres of the upgrade were due to open to traffic, including 57 kilometres between Port Macquarie and Coffs Harbour and 26 kilometres north of Coffs Harbour.
“The opening of Halfway Creek to Glenugie means 72 per cent of the 657 kilometre upgrade between Hexham and the Queensland border is now four-lane divided highway, bringing us closer to the goal of completing the entire upgrade in 2020,” Mr Hogan said.
New South Wales Member for Clarence Chris Gulaptis said finishing works would continue between Halfway Creek and Glenugie over the coming month, weather permitting.
“All highway traffic is now temporarily divided into separate single lanes in each direction with an 80 km/h speed limit, however the highway will progressively open to two lanes in each direction, with a 100 km/h speed limit,” Mr Gulaptis said.
For more information about the project and to keep up to date, visit rms.nsw.gov.au/projects/northern-nsw/woolgoolga-to-ballina. The upgrade is due to open by 2020 and is being funded by the Australian and New South Wales governments on an 80:20 basis.