Construction of the Nambucca Heads to Urunga bypass is expected to begin early next year.
The Federal and State governments claim the historic
agreement had been made before Urunga’s tragic accident earlier this month, which claimed two lives.
The project is expected to be completed by 2016.
Construction companies which have an interest in the project have until February 23 to register their details with the Roads and Maritime Services (RMS).
Federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister Anthony
Albanese said the 22-kilometre project was part of the larger 42-kilometre Warrell Creek to Urunga project.
“Once completed in 2016 the Nambucca Heads to Urunga upgrade will deliver safer, smoother driving
conditions for the 15,000 motorists and truck drivers who use this section of the Pacific Highway each and every day,” Mr Albanese said.
A shortlist of applicants will be chosen in May and invited to submit tenders.
During this period RMS will continue with land acquisitions and investigations to prepare this section
for the start of major construction in early 2013.
NSW Roads Minister Duncan Gay said he was pleased the Federal and State governments had agreed to
develop an inter-governmental agreement.
“The agreement will define the priority, timing and funding for all the remaining sections yet to be upgraded and duplicated,” Mr Gay said.
“This agreement will deliver the certainty that the community and interest groups have long demanded.
“We are determined to do all we can in the partnership with the Commonwealth to complete the full duplication of the Pacific Highway by 2016.”
Nambucca Shire Council General Manager Michael Coulter is pleased the upgrade will begin next year.
“This is good news,” Mr Coulter said.
In the latter part of last year council lobbied Minister Gay and Deputy Premier Andrew Stoner for the Nambucca Heads to Urunga section of the upgrade project to be prioritised.
“This council had been lobbying for the upgrade to go ahead long before the accident (Urunga),” Mr Coulter said.
Council was concerned the Nambucca Heads to Urunga upgrade would be put on the backburner in
preference for another section outside the shire.
Grafton-based medical practitioner and Urunga rally organiser Ray Jones was sceptical about the announcement the upgrade would be completed within three years.
“That is just rubbish,” Dr Jones said. “It has taken them four years to construct the highway from Woolgoolga to Coffs Harbour.
“How long would it take them to construct 300km?”
A rally at Urunga on Tuesday (24th), organised by Doctors for a Safe Pacific Highway seeking State and Federal governments to commit more funding to the Pacific Highway upgrade was cancelled because of
heavy rainfall and fear of flooding in the area.
Email a friend