WORKS on the $862 million Tintenbar to Ewingsdale section of the Pacific Highway upgrade are almost complete, with the road expected to open to traffic before the end of the year.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Warren Truss said the upcoming completion of the upgrade is an important step towards the full duplication of the Pacific Highway from Hexham to the Queensland border.
“The Australian Government has committed $5.64 billion towards completing the Pacific Highway upgrade by the end of the decade, the largest single investment in a road in New South Wales and the second largest across Australia,” Mr Truss said.
“The upgrade will significantly enhance safety for drivers, deliver more efficient roads for local, freight and commuter traffic and increase national productivity.”
New South Wales Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight Duncan Gay said more traffic changes are planned for July when the northbound ramp at the Ewingsdale interchange is expected to open.
“The Tintenbar to Ewingsdale upgrade included the construction of 17.3 kilometres of four-lane divided road, built to M-class (motorway) standard,” Mr Gay said.
“In the next three months, all bridges across the highway upgrade will be completed.
“The existing bridge over Bangalow Road will be dismantled and this will occur just before the project opens to traffic later this year.”
Federal Member for Page Kevin Hogan said major changes to traffic arrangements are planned as large sections of the project are completed and urged road users to observe the reduced speed limits.
“The landscaped noise mound along the eastern side of Clover Hill estate will reduce traffic noise for Bangalow residents and is now about 50 per cent complete,” Mr Hogan said.
“Before the end of the month a new access road bridge over the new highway south of Bangalow will also open to residents, weather permitting.
“This week southbound Pacific Highway traffic has been diverted through the Bangalow roundabout to allow work to progress on the new interchange including the Clover Hill noise mound.”
This project is jointly funded with the Australian Government contributing $566.1 million to the planning and construction of this project and the New South Wales Government contributing $295.9 million.
