POPULAR WORDS

January 12, 2010

Preliminary works have begun on the Pacific Highway duplication in NSW to improve travel times on the stretch of road.

Coffs Harbour City Council is relocating water mains to prepare the section of highway to be upgraded to a dual carriageway between Sapphire and Woolgoolga.

Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Anthony Albanese visited the site and says construction activities will begin in the second half of this year.

Once completed, Albanese says the project will improve safety and travelling times along the 25 kilometre stretch.

He says the Rudd Government is determined to complete the upgrade as soon as possible, with a preferred builder to be announced shortly.

“The early works now being undertaken by the Council will help make sure we are able to meet our ambitious construction timetable,” Albanese says.
The duplication, which is jointly funded by the federal and NSW governments, is expected to open to traffic in 2013.

NSW is investing $88.3 million, while the Rudd Government is spending $610 million as part of a $3.1 billion investment over six years to accelerate the duplication of the Pacific Highway.

Albanese says the investment is more than twice what the previous federal government spend during its 12 years in office.

As well as the duplication, Albanese says the project will deliver interchanges at Sapphire, Moonee Beach, Emerald, south Woolgoolga and Arrawarra.

An alternative route will also be specially constructed on an upgraded local road between Sapphire and Woolgoolga for school buses and motorists who do not want to use the highway.