Traffic stops for 12th time in Coffs

COFFS Harbour has received its 12th set of traffic lights, making the highway drag through the city the state’s most stop/start section outside of Sydney.

MORE COLOUR: The new traffic lights at Beryl St are the 12th set to be installed in a 5.5km section of the Pacific Hwy through Coffs Harbour.

COFFS Harbour has received its 12th set of traffic lights, making the highway drag through the city the state's most stop/start section of major road outside of Sydney.

The newest addition to the city centre gridlock is a set of lights that's needed in an emergency to stop highway traffic and allow police vehicles access to and from the new police station in Beryl St.

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The 12 sets of traffic lights, spanning a 5.5km section of the Pacific Hwy between Isles Dr and Park Beach Rd, has perpetually been voted one of the most frustrating sections of roads in New South Wales by NRMA members.

The new set of traffic lights can be regulated by the Roads and Maritime Services traffic management centre with a push of a button to allow police quick access to the highway in the case of an emergency or to control traffic flows through the city in heavy holiday traffic.

This week, as motorists noticed the new addition, police advised the local community the Coffs Harbour Police Station will move premises next week.

The brand-new station, built as part of the $70 million Coffs Harbour Justice Precinct, will be open for business from Wednesday at 6am.

Police said the old station, located at 20 Moonee St, will no longer be operational from Wednesday, posing the question of what the State Government has planned for the former police station and courthouse site as of early next year.