Preparing for early activities work
Early construction activities including utility relocation work, at property noise treatments and the construction of a new Rural Fire Service building are planned to start by the end of 2020. Other early work activities we are starting include traffic management, tree clearing, fencing and demolition.
Relocating utilities
We are engaging numerous local businesses to assist with utility relocation. Businesses including GPS Onsite are managing and assisting with utility relocation planning, Newhan Karl Weir and Partners, Cable and Pipe Locations and Hydrodigger are completing non-destructive digging and precise surveying to confirm the exact locations of all existing utilities.
We have also engaged accredited services providers from Essential Energy to carry out detailed design for the relocation of electrical assets. Local companies Gosling Electrical and Quanta Lines are designing Essential Energy electrical relocations. Coffs Harbour City Council are completing the design for the relocation of all of Council Water and Sewer infrastructure that is affected by the project. Telstra, Optus and Vocus are also currently undertaking detailed design for the relocation of their telecommunications assets.
Rural Fire Service shed
Once project approval is obtained, the Rural Fire Service Shed relocation will start. We’ve been working with the Rural Fire Service and Coffs Harbour City Council to plan the new location and building. The existing Solitary Brigade Rural Fire Shed will move from next to the existing Pacific Highway at Korora, to the proposed Korora Hill interchange. Moving the shed now will ensure an uninterrupted fire service for the community.
Find out more about the Coffs Harbour bypass project August 2020 update here
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The preferred route
The preferred route for the Coffs Harbour bypass was confirmed in 2004 and provides a four lane divided motorway standard road from Englands Road in the south and connects with the newly upgraded Sapphire to Woolgoolga section in the north. The route passes through the North Boambee Valley, through the Roberts Hill ridgeline and then traverses the foothills of the Coffs Harbour basin west and north to Korora Hill.
Roads and Maritime will be seeking planning approval through carrying out the environmental impact statement on the preferred route.
The current route map can be viewed here.
Project background
Roads and Maritime Services has been investigating a Coffs Harbour bypass since 2001 as part of the Pacific Highway upgrade. The preferred route was announced in 2004 and the concept design report was published in 2008.
Since then funding priorities have targeted the full duplication of the Pacific Highway between Hexham and the Queensland border by 2020.
In March 2015 the NSW Government pledged $200 million for construction of the project, subject to a business case and significant funding from the Australian Government. The project has been allocated funding to carry out the environmental assessment and to finalise the concept design.
In December 2017 a strategic business case was submitted to the Australian Government to begin discussions about the project.
In May 2018 the Australian Government committed $971 million to build the project, and in September Roads and Maritime released the preferred concept design for community feedback.
In September 2019 the project's environmental impact statement was exhibited for public comment.
