Transport for NSW maintains three tunnels in Northern Region - the St Helena, Tugun Bypass and Cudgen tunnels.
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Maintenance and closures
St Helena Tunnel
For the safety of workers and motorists, the St Helena tunnel is closed for maintenance every three months.
Upcoming maintenance and closures are scheduled for the following date:
- Monday 26 February to Wednesday 28 February 2024
- Monday 27 May to Wednesday 29 May 2024
- Monday 26 August to Wednesday 28 August 2024
- Monday 25 November to Wednesday 27 November 2024
*During each closure north and southbound traffic is diverted onto the Hinterland Way between the Byron Road interchange at Bangalow and the Ewingsdale Road interchange at Ewingsdale.
Tugun Tunnel
For the safety of workers and motorists, the Tugun Bypass tunnel is closed for maintenance every three months.
Upcoming maintenance and closures are scheduled for the following dates:
Tugun Bypass Tunnel
- Sunday 18 February to Thursday 22 February 2024
- Sunday 19 May to Thursday 23 May 2024
- Sunday 18 August to Thursday 22 August 2024
- Sunday 17 November to Thursday 21 November 2024
*During each closure north and southbound traffic is diverted onto the Gold Coast Highway and Stewart Road.
St Helena Tunnel
The St Helena Tunnel is located on the Pacific Highway near Byron Bay. Routine maintenance of the tunnel is carried out every three months and involves a range of measures such as inspecting the various operating and safety systems.
Background
The St Helena Tunnel was built as part of the Tintenbar to Ewingsdale Pacific Highway upgrade and opened to traffic in December 2015. The tunnel was built to avoid the steep grades of St Helena Hill.
Key features
- 434m tunnel built under St Helena Hill
- At its deepest point the tunnel is 45 metres below the 131-metre-high ridge line
- The tunnel has capacity for three lanes in each direction, but currently has three lanes southbound and two lanes northbound.
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Tugun Tunnel
The Tugun Bypass Tunnel is located on the Pacific Motorway, under Gold Coast Airport. Routine maintenance of the tunnel is carried out every three months and involves a range of measures such as inspecting the various operating and safety systems.
Background
The tunnel is part of the four-lane Tugun Bypass , completed in mid-2008. The bypass provides a motorway standard link between Queensland and New South Wales, easing congestion and reducing travel times for tourists, heavy vehicles and local traffic.
Current monitoring shows almost 60,000 vehicles use the bypass and tunnel every day.
Key features
- 334m tunnel underneath the Gold Coast Airport's runway extension
- The tunnel is a cut and cover design, and sits below the ground water table
- Four lanes (two, two-lane portals – north and southbound).
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Cudgen Tunnel
The Cudgen Tunnel on the Pacific Highway near Chinderah. Routine maintenance of the tunnel is carried out every six months and involves a range of measures such as inspecting the various operating and safety systems. During maintenance one of the tunnels is closed, with traffic diverted through the other tunnel.
Background
The tunnel was built as part of the Yelgun to Chinderah Pacific Highway upgrade, opening to traffic in 2002. It was the first tunnel to be built as part of a rural road project in NSW.
This alignment of the Yelgun to Chinderah motorway was aimed at avoiding the loss of prime cane land, avoiding flood-prone areas and preserving important local animal habitat.
Key features
- Twin-tube road tunnel
- 134m tunnel passing under the Cudgen Road and the Condong Range.
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