NSW RMS details Pacific Highway duplicaton

Progress being made, subject to finance, towards 2016 completion, according to NRMA following project update to Taskforce

November 24, 2011

Motoring organisation NRMA has welcomed a NSW Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) pledge that progress was being made towards a duplication of the Pacific Highway by 2016, subject to funding.

Following a Pacific Highway Taskforce meeting earlier this month, NRMA Motoring & Services President Wendy Machin believes RMS had the logistics in place to complete the upgrade of the Pacific Highway on time and it was now up to the Australian and NSW Governments to provide the funding.

“The Australian Government is prepared to put the money on the table if the Pacific Highway is shovel-ready,” Machin said.

“The NSW Government will need to come to the party too with some money, which is why we want them to start talking now and establish a funding timeline that boosts the public’s confidence.

“We only recently passed the half way stage to upgrading the highway, so while this is good news for motorists, we will be monitoring progress to the 2016 deadline.

“In contrast, the upgrade of the Hume Highway to a safe dual carriageway is almost complete.

“Once the Pacific Highway upgrade is completed, the road risk – particularly for head-on crashes – will be reduced significantly.”

Pacific Highway Taskforce Chairman Councillor Richie Williamson says 105 km of highway duplication is either awaiting project approval or is ready for construction while the remaining 155 km is still in the planning stages.

“While we are waiting for construction commitments, interim safety works should be undertaken at known blackspots to minimise crashes on the unduplicated sections of the Pacific Highway,” Williamson says.

RMS updated the Taskforce on aspects of the duplication already underway.

Its latest monthly report, for October, highlights:

the $618 million 14.5 km Kempsey bypass project, due by mid-2013, is part of the 40 km Kempsey to Eungai project, which extends from the existing dual carriageway south of Kempsey to the existing dual carriageway at Eungai Rail. The bridge over the Macleay River and Floodplain will be 3.2 km long and on completion, making it the longest bridge in Australia
the $60 million Glenugie upgrade project, due before the end of the year, weather permitting
the two-stage $640 million Ballina bypass project, due mid next year, to provide 12 km of dual carriageway, extending from south of Ballina at the intersection of the Bruxner and Pacific highways to north of Ballina at the intersection of Ross Lane at Tintenbar. The project is being opened in two stages.The first stage from Cumbalum to Ross Lane was opened in March and the second stage from the Bruxner Highway to Cumbalum interchange is due to be open by Christmas, weather permitting
The $359 million Pacific Highway upgrade at Banora Point, due late next year, that extends over 2.5 km from the northern end of Barneys Point bridge to the southern end of the Tweed Heads bypass.

The RMS also addressed the $55 million program of safety improvement works.

“While most of this funding will be directed to upgrading the highway to dual carriageway, there is a need to address road safety and traffic issues on sections of two-lane highway that are not being upgraded to dual carriageway as part of the current five year program,” it says.

“A package of smaller works is being delivered to keep these sections safe and serviceable until upgrades can be completed.

“This work is also aimed at reducing the delays caused by local and major flood events.”

RMS summarised the upgrading projects funded from $4.84 billion five year program to 2014 as: