Pacific Highway Bypass of Coffs Harbour

[Hairs]

It works a treat, until some numpty has no idea how to use a it.

[alnjan]

Went through there today, on the way up we had to stop at Ferry Park for a break.   Easy enough to get through just have to watch the signs and where to turn.   On the way back just kept going south in the rain.   

[Hairs]

I reckon it's great,

[alnjan]

See there is talk of more sections of the new Highway upgrades being opened.   

Iluka to Devils Pulpit 15kms in the next couple of weeks

and Woodburn to Pimlico section of the new Highway being opened possibly in September.   

https://www.pacifichighway.nsw.gov.au/project-sections/coffs-harbour-to-ballina/woolgoolga-to-ballina

[Hairs]

Hi Al,
Yep, little by little it is coming together.

[HEM19X]

Can't happen soon enough..

It's not the fact that there are NO overtaking opportunities between the Harwood bridge and Woodburn,

It's not the fact that it's 80 kph the whole way.

It's not even the fact that there are several sections where there WERE double lanes but they have been closed for no obvious reason for the past 12 months!

It's not even the F**ing numbie at the front of the queue that drives between 65 - 75 kph the whole way!

It's the fact that, when they reach the speed of 75kph, they then jam on their brakes & slow to 65kph causing the 50 vehicles behind them to almost run up the bum of the bloke in front!!!

End of rant [Until the next time I drive on the road!]

Hem!

[Hairs]

Hemi,
People don't read road signs,
People have no space awareness,
People don't give a Ratz bum about anyone else,
People have become selfish.

If there is one thing I have learnt from this Covid thing.
People have turned into arshats.

There are plenty of good people out there, yep.
Now, when you come across them, their actions/driving stands out.

[alnjan]

Can't happen soon enough..

It's not the fact that there are NO overtaking opportunities between the Harwood bridge and Woodburn,

It's not the fact that it's 80 kph the whole way.

It's not even the fact that there are several sections where there WERE double lanes but they have been closed for no obvious reason for the past 12 months!

It's not even the F**ing numbie at the front of the queue that drives between 65 - 75 kph the whole way!

It's the fact that, when they reach the speed of 75kph, they then jam on their brakes & slow to 65kph causing the 50 vehicles behind them to almost run up the bum of the bloke in front!!!

End of rant [Until the next time I drive on the road!]

Hem!

Have to agree with you.   that and drivers not using cruise if it is fitted to their vehicle.   

[Hairs]

Al,
I don't get why from Iluka turn off to Woodburn hasn't been completed yet.
Bugger all bridges, no swamp country.
Did I hear right,
Original budget from Woolgoolga to Ballina was 6 Billion?
Blown out to 16Billion.

[rags]

Al,
I don't get why from Iluka turn off to Woodburn hasn't been completed yet.
Bugger all bridges, no swamp country.
Did I hear right,
Original budget from Woolgoolga to Ballina was 6 Billion?
Blown out to 16Billion.

I think the signs say $4.9 billion. Not sure what that works out for a cost per linear metre

[Hairs]

I think the signs say $4.9 billion. Not sure what that works out for a cost per linear metre

I've heard some pretty sad stories of waste.
Contractors just leaving tools out in the weather, not taking equipment back to compounds(theft).

[rags]

I've heard some pretty sad stories of waste.
Contractors just leaving tools out in the weather, not taking equipment back to compounds(theft).

It’s ok, the builders will walk away and leave behind sheds and concrete batching plants without worry, built into the cost and cheaper to walk away.
I think it is down near Kempsey that there remains a concrete plant rusting away.

[bmwfreak]

Original budget from Woolgoolga to Ballina was 6 Billion?
Blown out to 16Billion.

Imagine if it was being upgraded in QLD, if the cost of the Ipswich motorway is anything to go by




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[Fizzie]

Imagine if it was being upgraded in QLD, if the cost of the Ipswich motorway is anything to go by

& when you look at the cost of the M1 upgrades & tram tracks down here ...

That article could easily be turned around though, which would also say a lot ...

"The 5-year budget for maintenance & improvement on 1700km of Bruce Hwy has been announced as only $2.5 billion, the same as will be spent of just 19km of the Ipswich Motorway"

 

[Bird]

Original budget from Woolgoolga to Ballina was 6 Billion?
Blown out to 16Billion.

why do they bother with estimates and "quotes" and budgets.. nothign ever comes in anywhere near them, usually x3 as much

[alnjan]

Al,
I don't get why from Iluka turn off to Woodburn hasn't been completed yet.
Bugger all bridges, no swamp country.
Did I hear right,
Original budget from Woolgoolga to Ballina was 6 Billion?
Blown out to 16Billion.

Where they are trying to upgrade the existing roadway and still have traffic on the roadway it means the workers are working in a very narrow restricted corridor unlike when building a whole new roadway.   

An example is the Coffs Harbour Bypass, it is a 14km section of roadway and it is being done in two sections.   The main one is 12kms around the west of Coffs Harbour where they are free to build as they like and can.   That section is planned for three years. 

The second section is 2kms upgrading the existing Highway from the Northern Interchange at the Lookout Out turn off at Bruxner Park Road, north to the Sapphire Hill connecting to the existing M1.   As this 2kms will be constructing the new Northbound lanes first just west of the existing Highway.  Then putting all traffic onto those two lanes while the Southbound lanes and the new extended Local Road constructed, basically where the existing Highway is now.   

As they are working in a very narrow corridor and working on top of themselves that 2kms will take at least 4 years to construct.     

[bmwfreak]

You’ll note that it is now called ‘The Pacific Way’. Too many people named Bruce, were offended by complaints about the highway with their name, e.g. The Bruce holeway

[alnjan]

https://patconaghan.com.au/coffs-bypass-green-light-to-drive-local-jobs-economy/?fbclid=IwAR3dD9LxPo4m3iwFLAH-WWnu9d3ZXu_We_fRMQnc9v4Lkg2OkXvx7twS-5g


"The Coffs Harbour bypass has been given the official green light by the Federal Government after the Federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley assessed and then approved the project under the EPBC Act, moving the town’s biggest ever infrastructure project a step closer to construction.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said the 14-kilometre bypass which received official planning approval is one of the 15 major projects that the Federal Government committed to fast-tracking in June this year.

“The bypass is going to take more than 12,000 vehicles a day out of the centre of Coffs Harbour, reduce travel times by as much as 12 minutes by bypassing 12 sets of traffic lights, and improve safety for all road users,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.

“Transport for NSW has now received the final stamp of approval, after close scrutiny by the NSW Minister for Planning and Public Spaces and the Australian Minister for the Environment.

“This approval includes the proposed tunnels at Roberts Hill, Shephards Lane and Gatelys Road, as well as assessing the project for its social, environmental, heritage and economic impacts, and gives the project team the green light to go ahead with major work.”"

That's one more green light for approval.  Now the Tendering Process and then start work in a couple of months or so.  Maybe start middle of the 2021.   

[Hairs]

Fingers crossed it doesn't have any hiccups.
That will be the last link in P/Hway completed.
Happy Days.


You don't use magic to disappear, all you need is a 4wd & a Swag.

[gronk]

That will be the last link in P/Hway completed.
Happy Days.


You don't use magic to disappear, all you need is a 4wd & a Swag.

Aahh, not quite....Hexham bypass should get started before 2030 ?? Maybe ??

[Fizzie]

That will be the last link in P/Hway completed.

So is the full Ballina - Grafton stretch open & running now

[Hairs]

So is the full Ballina - Grafton stretch open & running now

Not all,it's getting closer.
South of Woodburn to the Jackybulbin rd I believe has small sections that need finishing.

Cronk,
I didn't realise it hadn't been done.
 

You don't use magic to disappear, all you need is a 4wd & a Swag.

[alnjan]

So is the full Ballina - Grafton stretch open & running now

From Ballina south the Highway now bypasses Wardell, Broadwater and Woodburn.   

As Hairs said from south of Woodburn around New Italy is still being worked on then back to dual carriageway bypassing Maclean, Tyndale, Ulmarra and Grafton, rejoining the old Highway south of the Wooli turn off.   

[gronk]

Cronk,
I didn't realise it hadn't been done.
 

You don't use magic to disappear, all you need is a 4wd & a Swag.

Funny how most of the traffic streams out of Sydney heading north every holiday period, but instead of starting at the busiest end, they do bits and pieces all the way up the coast.

The busiest section is probably the dearest section to do, although the Coffs section sounds like it ain't gonna be cheap either ..

[alnjan]

Funny how most of the traffic streams out of Sydney heading north every holiday period, but instead of starting at the busiest end, they do bits and pieces all the way up the coast.

The busiest section is probably the dearest section to do, although the Coffs section sounds like it ain't gonna be cheap either ..

Speaking to the blokes from State Planning, they said it hasn't been done yet because it has been a minefield due to the river, wetlands, power grid, sacred sites and the airfield being an airforce airfield has created continual dramas.   But like you say I would have thought it would have been done long time ago being such a busy spot, and major interchange.