$2.2bn NSW Coffs Harbour Bypass progressing well towards construction

The $2.2 billion Coffs Harbour Bypass project in New South Wales is progressing well towards the beginning of major construction with the detailed design phase close to completion. 

Ahead of construction in 2023, the Ferrovial Gamuda Joint Venture – the chosen builder for the project – is now carrying out geotechnical work. Over the next six months, crews will be drilling over 300 boreholes as well as excavating dozens of test pits across the project alignment to help verify ground conditions. 

“We’re well on our way to seeing major construction start next year, with these works helping us better understand the terrain for when shovels hit the ground. 

“This is one of the main steps in informing the final design ahead of major construction next year,” Member for Coffs Harbour Gurmesh Singh said. 

The boreholes will vary in depth – between 4 to 70 metres – and each site will take around two to seven days to drill and reinstate depending on access and weather conditions. 

Project alignment (source: Pacific Highway Upgrade)

Earlier this year, the Ferrovial Gamuda Joint Venture was awarded the contract valued at $1.35 billion to undertake major works on the Coffs Harbour Bypass project. 

The more than $2 billion project will deliver a 14-kilometre bypass that includes three tunnels at major ridgelines, three key interchanges, access roads as well as a new bus interchange at Kororo Public School. 

“The Coffs Harbour Bypass will be a game-changer for the daily lives of residents and commuters travelling through the city. 

“This is the biggest infrastructure project in the city’s history and it will be a key piece of infrastructure connecting Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane resulting in wider economic benefits for the Coffs Harbour area by making the CBD a more attractive place to visit, shop and work,” Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Sam Farraway said. 

Once open to traffic, the new bypass will help improve road safety and efficiency for all local, regional and interstate road users. Motorists will be able to save about 11 minutes in travel time, bypassing up to 12 sets of traffic lights. The project will also remove thousands of vehicles from the Coffs Harbour CBD. 

In August of this year, the engineering firm Quickway was awarded the contract for early works that includes relocation of essential utilities and vegetation clearing. You Can read more about the contract award here. 

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