“Geotechnical’ work is almost complete on the Oxley to Kempsey Pacific Highway upgrade and a design contract will be awarded this month.
NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell, NSW Minister for Roads Duncan Gay and Member for Port Macquarie Leslie Williams made the announcement while inspecting the Pacific Highway between Port Macquarie and Coffs Harbour on Tuesday.
The design contract is for the 14km section of the Pacific Highway, from Kempsey to Kundabung, and will come from the short listed companies:
nAecom Pty Ltd /SKM Pty Ltd Joint Venture
nArup Pty Ltd/Parsons Brinckerhoff Pty Ltd Joint Venture
nSMEC Pty Ltd /Hyder Pty Ltd Joint Venture.
“We expect the detailed design to be completed by the nominated company for the Kempsey to Kundabung section of the upgrade in early 2013,” Mr O’Farrell said.
“RMS is continuing with land acquisitions across the entire length of the upgrade to ensure that, as soon as the design is complete, we are ready for work to start.
“This is all part of the NSW Government’s commitment to get on with the job of the Pacific Highway upgrade.”
NSW Minister for Roads Duncan Gay said the NSW Government had also recently announced the shortlist of consortiums bidding for the design and build contract on the Frederickton to Eungai Pacific Highway upgrade, and the contract for the detailed planning and design work on the section between Woolgoolga to Glenugie.
“Last year the NSW Government injected an extra $468 million into the Pacific Highway and we are determined to get this job done as quickly as possible,” Mr Gay said.
“This additional funding has allowed us to accelerate work on the Pacific Highway and almost doubled the NSW Government’s contribution under the current funding agreement.
“It is very important for the State and Federal Governments to finalise an intergovernmental funding agreement for the Pacific Highway so that construction of the Kempsey to Kundabung section can get underway as soon as possible,” Mr Gay said.
Member for Port Macquarie Leslie Williams welcomed the announcement.
“The local community will be pleased to know that early designs for this section are now in place and we are working hard towards getting this road upgraded.”
When complete, this upgrade will provide a 37 kilometre, four-lane divided road from north of the Oxley Highway interchange to south of Kempsey and will improve road safety and reduce travel times along the Pacific Highway.
Key features of the upgrade include:
- About 37 kilometres of four-lane dual carriageway with a wide median to allow for a future upgrade to six lanes when required
- A bypass of Telegraph Point – access to and from Telegraph Point would be via a new interchange in the area of Blackmans Point Road south of Telegraph Point, and a smaller interchange in the area of Haydons Wharf Road north of Telegraph Point
- Overpasses provided south of Sancrox Road, Bill Hill Road, Yarrabee Road, Mingaletta Road, Wharf Road, Kundabung Road and for access to Maria River State Forest
- New major bridges for the Hastings River and Wilson River crossings, and the crossing of the North Coast Railway Line to the north of the Wilson River
- Smaller bridges for a number of creek crossings
- North and southbound rest areas.
Planning approval documents are available on the project website or by contacting the project information line.
