These are the worst roads on the Coffs Coast, according to locals

From congestion chaos to pothole pain, locals have labelled these roads the worst in the region.

These are some of the worst roads on the Coffs Coast, according to locals.

Advocate readers had a lot to say when posed the question: what’s the worst road in Coffs Harbour?

Whether it was congestion woe or potholed roads, local motorists did not hold back their frustrations.

We’ve compiled the most commonly mentioned roads in the following list – don’t forget to have your say in the poll below.

Coramba Road

This stretch of Coramba Road has been the site of numerous crashes. Photo: Tim Jarrett

It was a sentiment from Matt Primmer that was shared by a number of locals: “Coramba Road is pretty crappy.”

The two-lane road, which stretches from Coffs Harbour to Coramba, was also labelled a “doozy” by Karen Lagalla.

It’s the site of many crashes and in May the State Government announced a notorious black spot on Coramba Rd would receive $900,000 to go toward road widening, barrier installation and pavement correction.

One Coramba Rd resident said there had been 92 crashes at the site since they moved to the area 23 years ago.

Pacific Highway

The highway at Coffs Harbour is one of the most hated roads in the state.

“The one straight through the middle,” Jayden Patterson succinctly put when asked what the worst road in Coffs Harbour was.

It’s no secret that the highway is arguably the most hated road on the Coffs Coast, and has even been voted as the worst section of road in NSW in Australia’s largest road survey from the NRMA in 2014. Most recently in 2019, it received the most number of votes for congestion in the North Coast region.

The highway drag through Coffs Harbour has 12 sets of traffic lights, causing the city’s infamous CBD gridlock.

Meanwhile ‘early works’ have commenced on the bypass, but construction tenders are yet to be awarded.

Bray Street

Bray Street at the Joyce Street intersection in Coffs Harbour.

Bray St particularly around the Joyce St area was a common gripe among locals, with Jamie Erskine labelling it a “bumpy-a** road.”

With many complaining about the ripples in the road near the high school, Annette Bradley said the street needed to be reconstructed.

“ … been corrugated for at least 10 years. They just put a layer of asphalt over it. Needs to be dug out and reconstructed,” she said.

“I actually thought there was something wrong with my car the first time it was shuddering so much,” Jeannine Tong said in agreeance.

Sue Shipman on the other hand shared concerns about the congestion and safety of the intersection, particularly around school times when parents are picking up or dropping off their kids.

“The … intersection really needs some sort of traffic control as it is dangerous around school time. The traffic is now banking up Joyce St past the Tyalla Primary School waiting to enter Bray St.”

Thompsons Road/Halls Road intersection

The intersection has been the site of several accidents.

It was the Pacific Highway intersection at Thompsons Road and Halls Road that drew the ire of several locals, with the awkward intersection having been the site of several accidents.

“Very hard to get out of (Thompsons Rd) if you have one person waiting to get over to turn (into) Halls Rd. Stops all other traffic from turning left onto the highway,” Julie Spencer said.

“Endless amounts of accidents there,” Nicole Aldred said.

Hogbin Drive

Locals say the road should be two-lanes both ways.

The long stretch connecting Coffs Harbour to Sawtell and Toormina was described by Graham Cowling as being “completely inadequate.”

Locals took issue with the fact that the link road was only a single lane both ways with numerous roundabouts, causing congestion at peak hours.

“It needs to be two lanes both ways – daily chaos,” Mr Cowling said.

The road has been the site of tragedy and numerous crashes over the years.

Some worthy mentions that didn’t quite make the cut: Englands Rd, Solitary Islands Way at Sandy Beach and Arrawarra Rd.