$2.2bn Coffs Harbour Bypass ramps up construction

Works on the $2.2 billion Coffs Harbour bypass project in New South Wales are ramping up with site offices established, a large portion of the required workforce already in place, local contractors engaged and over 75 tender packages under assessment. 

The Coffs Harbour bypass is jointly funded by the Australian and New South Wales Governments, each contributing $1.76 billion and $440 million respectively. 

The Ferrovial Gamuda Joint Venture was awarded the design and construction contract in June 2022. You can read more about the contract award here. 

“We expect the project will create about 600 direct jobs, including many for residents of Coffs Harbour and surrounds. 

“To date, Ferrovial Gamuda Joint Venture has engaged 15 local companies including one Aboriginal company. 

“These contracts are valued at about $13 million and include some key local companies like Ahoy Traffic Control, Gosling Electrical, Geoff King Mitsubishi and Jaybro,” Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King said. 

Englands Road interchange (source: Pacific Highway Upgrade)

Currently, there are a total of 77 tender packages in assessment or negotiation, collectively valued at over $500 million. Meanwhile, around 76 tender packages will be in assessment or negotiation – valued at about $140 million – over the coming months. 

Coffs Harbour residents will start seeing construction activities being carried out on some of the major elements of the project, including excavation for some of the cuttings. 

Most of the works will be done in areas away from the public eye but will soon change as bulk earthworks are set to begin, followed by the delivery of the Korora Bus Interchange and Englands Road interchange. Construction on the tunnel is due to commence later this year. 

Other near-time works include establishing access points to the corridor, drainage and bridge works as well as the development of compound sites, vegetation removal along the project corridor and boundary, and installation of project boundary fencing. 

Works to build new road connections between Campbell Close and the Pacific Highway and between Russ Hammond Close and Korora School Road will also get underway. 

Project map (source: NSW Government - Planning)

“This project is going to be a game changer for the Coffs Harbour region. 

“It will completely transform Coffs Harbour, saving motorists about 12 minutes in travel time, avoiding up to 12 sets of traffic lights and reducing the number of vehicles through the city centre by about 12,000 a day. 

“It will make this idyllic coastal city a safer and even more attractive for people to live in, work and visit,” NSW Minister for Regional Roads and Transport Jenny Aitchison said. 

The Coffs Harbour bypass is expected to open to traffic by late 2026 and be fully complete by late 2027. 

The $2.2 billion project will deliver a 14-kilometre bypass road that includes three tunnels at major ridgelines, new interchanges, access roads and a new bus interchange. 

Source: Transport for NSW; Pacific Highway Upgrade – Coffs Harbour Bypass; NSW Government – Coffs Harbour Bypass Web Portal