Ballina Bypass now a step closer
Construction on the Ballina Bypass Pacific Highway upgrade – to deliver more than 12km of safer dual carriageway – has moved a step closer with preferred contractors announced for the project.
Australian Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Anthony Albanese, and NSW Roads Minister, Eric Roozendaal, said that Leightons Contractors Pty Limited, Maunsell AECOM, SMEC and Coffey Geotechnics have been identified as the preferred private firms to partner with the RTA on the design and construction of the Ballina Bypass project.
Mr Albanese said: “It is full steam ahead on the Ballina Bypass section of the Pacific Highway to make it safer for the thousands of motorists who use it every day.
“The Ballina Bypass work is being accelerated because we understand how important it is for the local community. We expect it to be completed by mid-2012.
“The Rudd Labor Government plans to spend $2.5 billion over the next six years upgrading the Pacific Highway to deliver safer roads and shorter travel times.
“Plans for further sections to be improved under this multi-billion dollar program will go on display in the next few months.”
Mr Roozendaal said the Ballina Bypass will deliver approximately 12.4km of safer dual carriageway on the Pacific Highway.
“The completed Pacific Highway Upgrade will mean 664km of continuous dual carriageway from the F3 Freeway near Hexham to the Tugun Bypass on the Queensland border. The Ballina Bypass will be significantly shorter than the current 19km route through Ballina and will offer a travel time saving up to 12 minutes for Pacific Highway traffic,” Mr Roozendaal said.
The Member for Page, Janelle Saffin welcomed the announcement. “This is a critical project for the Ballina community and will deliver significant improvements in road safety, bypassing Tintenbar Hill and the urban areas of Ballina,” she said.
“The bypass will reduce traffic congestion by directing highway vehicles away from seven roundabouts, a set of traffic lights, numerous minor intersections and a 60 kmh speed zone.”
The approved Ballina Bypass extends north from the intersection of the Bruxner and Pacific Highways, through Teven junction and Cumbalum to Ross Lane, Tintenbar.
An initial works contract was awarded to RTA Operations on 28 August 2006, with the work now complete.
The initial works were necessary to start stabilising the underlying soft soils in a number of sections in preparation for the construction of the Ballina Bypass.
The initial contract saw the construction of earth embankments that will carry the bypass across a difficult floodplain where extensive settlement is anticipated.
For more information visit the Pacific Highway section of the RTA website at www.rta.nsw.gov.au
