Changes to Coramba Rd, Englands Rd and Korora Hill interchanges
Amid traffic jams and concerns over endangered shrubbery, the Coffs Harbour Bypass is now just weeks out from the start of major construction. See how it impacts you.
Coffs Harbour
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Major construction on Coffs Harbour’s biggest ever development – the long awaited highway bypass – is set to begin in March.
It couldn’t come any sooner, with the summer holiday blitz causing major bottlenecks in the current 60kmh zone that runs through Coffs Harbour’s CBD.
The $2.2 billion project has been a hot topic of debate due to concerns over the project’s timeline, tunnels and endangered vegetation.
The bypass is set to open to traffic by late 2026 and will be the final Pacific Motorway link between Sydney and Brisbane.
Coffs Harbour councillors recently voted against any move which might delay the bypass even if it meant the region would lose “precious” fauna.
Much of the work for the new dual carriageway involves major tunnel digging, as revealed in latest designs.
On Facebook, Matt Percival said he believes the bypass should've started many years ago.
“Congestion is already unbearable, let alone how bad it‘ll be between now and 2026,” Mr Percival said.
The latest update features changes to the Coramba Rd, Englands Rd, and Korora Hill interchanges however the overall design and tunnels remains the same.
The tweaks were made after an environmental-impact statement was released, and comes on the back of a major refinement to the project in 2019.
While both are stationed overseas, they are no stranger to driving Australian projects, including runs on the board with major construction works on the NSW North Coast.
There was significant discussion between the builders and Transport for NSW before the latest changes were finalised.
The mega project is being jointly funded, with the Australian government supplying $1.76 billion and the NSW government tipping in $440 million.
Federal Transport Minister Catherine King said the bypass will be a “game-changer”.
“It’ll save time, increase safety and improve accessibility for those who rely on this busy segment of the highway,” Ms King said.
She claims the project will help protect Coffs Harbour against flooding.
Yet flood victims in the state’s north claimed highway works there had increased the flood risk.
Ms King said the design changes would improve traffic flow and benefit residents during the lengthy construction phase.
“This milestone will support local jobs and stimulate the state and national economies,” she said.
NSW Regional Transport Minister Sam Farraway said motorists will enjoy a traffic light-free run all the way to Brisbane on completion of the Coffs Bypass.
“The upgrade is making daily life easier for you and your family as well as small businesses by providing a quicker and safer way to get from A to B,” Mr Farraway said.
Coffs Harbour state MP Gurmesh Singh said feedback from the community guided the decision to simplify the local interchanges.
He said the bypass will greatly reduce congestion in Coffs.
“It will make life easier for locals to get to work or drop the kids at school,” Mr Singh said.
Mr Singh acknowledged the cries of frustration from locals with the influx of holiday-makers causing traffic jams.
“Nobody likes being stuck at traffic lights – especially during the holiday period – and this project removes 12 of them, saving 12 minutes off your trip and easing congestion through town.”
The community can provide opinion on the project’s refined design, with submissions open until February 20.
Displays of the final design can be viewed from January 11 at:
- Coffs Harbour Bypass display centre, 54 Moonee St
- City of Coffs Harbour office, corner of Coffs and Castle streets
- Harry Bailey Memorial Library, corner of Duke and Coffs streets
- Toormina Library, Minorie Dr, Toormina.
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