Consultation summary report for Detailed Design
In early 2023, Transport for NSW sought feedback on refinements to design of the three interchanges for the Coffs Harbour bypass.
During consultation, we received almost 290 submissions on the detailed design optimisations and had more than 170 people attend community information sessions to talk with the project team.
We have now published the consultation summary report for detailed design and you can read about the feedback and Transport’s responses here.
September Project Update Available
Major construction is well underway on the Coffs Harbour bypass project with vegetation removal, earthwork, and drainage installation happening concurrently. We are about to start bridge building and tunnelling work is expected to start in coming months at the Gatelys Road tunnel. The September Project Update as all the latest news and information about the project and upcoming work.
Bridge building starts for the bypass
The project team is starting construction of the first of 17 bridges being built for the bypass.
Piling is the first step of bridge building and will start at the Korora Hill interchange and Englands Road interchange in September.
We will have two 25m-tall piling rigs working across the bypass alignment to bore the 270 holes needed for our bridges. This generally means we will be piling in two separate locations at once. Each piling rig will finish at one location before it is moved to the next bridge site.
For the bypass, we are doing bored piles rather than driven piles – this means we drill rather than hammering – this creates less noise and vibration minimising disruption for nearby residents and businesses.
If you would like to know more about bored piling on the Coffs Harbour bypass, please read our factsheet.
Controlled blasting starts
As part of earthwork activities, the project team have started using controlled blasting to break through rock on the upgrade.
Our first trial blast took place at the cut site between Bruxner Park Road and West Korora Road. Soon we will be blasting at this location twice weekly. You can view the notification for this work here.
We expect to excavate about two million cubic metres of rock using controlled blasting. Most of this rock will be used to build up or "fill" parts of the road that run through lower-lying areas, or it will be processed for use in pavement materials.
If you would like to know more about controlled blasting on the Coffs Harbour bypass, please view our factsheet.
To reduce the amount of controlled blasting we need to do for the project, we are trialling the use of a surface mining machine (rock muncher) on some of our smaller and more shallow cuts.
Looking for a job on the Coffs Harbour bypass?
Construction is ramping up on the Coffs Harbour bypass and we have had lots of people get in touch to express working on the upgrade.
We have a strong local workforce currently and this remains a continued focus for the team. Depending on your skillset, there are a number of avenues available:
- Available vacancies with head contractor Ferrovial Gamuda Joint Venture (FGJV) are advertised on SEEK
- Tender opportunities for subcontracts are listed on the ICN Gateway – please use this portal to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI)
- Protech was awarded the contract to supply labourers, plant operators and other positions across the project – we encourage you to contact Protech direct to express interest in these roles
- You may also send your resume direct to employment@CHBteam.com.au – with your approval, these will be stored and shared with relevant subcontractors as they are engaged
- These local subcontractors currently engaged on the project – you may consider contacting them direct to express interest in suitable roles