Federal Member for Page Kevin Hogan and NSW Member for Clarence Chris Gulaptis today announced FKG Group has been awarded the tender for soft soil treatment work on the Woolgoolga to Ballina Pacific Highway upgrade between Tyndale and Maclean.
Mr Hogan said as part of the 155 kilometre project some sections of highway require work to stabilise the underlying soft soils before major work starts.
“This is another milestone in upgrading the Pacific Highway. Since 2011 the Australian and NSW governments have invested $8 billion into duplicating the highway,” Mr Hogan said.
“The current soft soil projects have resulted in over 200 jobs and as a result of today’s announcement an additional 80 jobs are expected to be created.
“By 2017 the Pacific Highway will have close to 4000 direct employees and 12,000 people working indirectly on upgrades.
“The work will involve the treatment of more than 11.3 kilometres of soft soil areas at three locations within the project alignment between Tyndale and Maclean,” he said.
Soft soil treatment is being carried out on sections of the highway before major building work starts to ensure the upgrade is opened to traffic on time. The Woolgoolga to Ballina upgrade crosses several floodplains and geologically complex regions.
Clarence MP, Chris Gulaptis said work is well advanced on the first two waves of soft soil work for the Woolgoolga to Ballina upgrade between Whytes Lane and Pimlico Road and the section between Farlows Lane and Iluka Road.
“It is fantastic to be able to announce this tender. The additional jobs that will be created are yet another economic boost for our community,” Mr Gulaptis said.
“The Pacific Highway upgrade is going full steam ahead with the bottom layer of the embankment between Whytes Lane and Pimlico Road finished ahead of schedule allowing work on the next stage to start earlier than expected.
“Preliminary site work has started on another 1.9 kilometre section between Trustums Hill Road at Woodburn and Watson St at Tuckombil.
“Between Farlows Lane and Iluka Road about 220,000 tonnes of rock required for drainage has been placed from a total of 250,000 tonnes since the work started in October last year,” he said.
For more information visit http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/projects/northern-nsw/woolgoolga-to-ballina/soft-soil-work/index.html
