Update: When will Coffs bypass construction tender be awarded

Some ‘early works’ have begun but when will the construction tender be awarded? Transport for NSW has given an update.

Tenders are yet to be awarded for the construction of the Coffs Harbour bypass.

A sod turning ceremony has been held and some ‘early works’ commenced which, according to Transport for NSW, fulfils the 2020 start date commitment.

But now with construction tenders yet to be awarded the 2027 completion target could be in doubt.

A spokesperson from Transport for NSW this week confirmed that tenders have yet to be awarded for major construction work.

“A Market Interaction Process has taken place to gain feedback from industry on the best way to deliver the construction of the bypass,” the spokesperson said.

“The project team are busy preparing for the procurement phase of major works and Transport for NSW will provide more information soon.”

The spokesperson indicated the 2027 completion date was still on track.

“The project team has already started pre-construction works including the demolition of properties, utility relocations and at-residence noise treatment, so locals are seeing progress.

The first house to be demolished to make way for the Coffs Harbour Bypass. It has now been completely removed. A new Rural Fire Service (RFS) building will be built on the Bruxner Park Road site.

“Local and regional contractors have been engaged for the preliminary work now taking place.

“The project is continuing to its expected timeline.”

The Advocate also posed the following questions:

Question – Have any aspects of the design significantly differed from the EIS?

Answer – Several changes were made to the project following extensive consultation with the community, government agencies and technical experts during an extended 47-day period of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), where 186 submissions were received.

Transport for NSW then completed a rigorous assessment of the project – which includes the proposed tunnels at Roberts Hill, Shephards Lane and Gatelys Road – by seeking advice from other NSW Government agencies and Coffs Harbour City Council on a range of issues.

Sod turning in December 2020 and an image of properties to be acquired along the proposed bypass route.

As a result of this advice, the project has been approved subject to strict conditions, including increased protections for koalas, improved noise mitigation and visual buffer measures, and stronger control measures to protect the environment and Aboriginal cultural heritage.

Question – Is the final design stage progressing in line with the approved EIS? including two lanes in each direction for the full length of the project, all overpasses and no traffic lights and a bicycle lane for length of the project?

Answer – The proposed bypass of Coffs Harbour will create a 14-kilometre stretch of two lane dual carriageway from south of Englands Road to Sapphire in the north.

This will relieve congestion on the wider road network and improve accessibility and amenity to the Coffs Harbour central business district by taking more than 12,000 vehicles a day out of the city centre and reducing travel times by as much as 12 minutes by bypassing 12 sets of traffic lights.

The shared paths for bicycles will extend from Sapphire Beach along Solitary Way to the proposed Korora Hill interchange. Similarly the bicycle path in the south will extend from Englands Road south towards Sawtell.

There is a 2.5 metre shoulder for the length of the bypass, similar to the rest of the Pacific Highway; however this will not be a designated cycle route.

Question – Is the allocated project budget in line with the estimate for the completion of the project?

Answer – Yes, the allocated budget is in line with the completion of the project.