NAMBUCCA Valley residents have overwhelmingly taken delight watching construction of the new Pacific Highway, but a milestone moment in the build has for the most part gone unnoticed.
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Today, the Guardian can reveal that the ‘blacktop’ – a tarred section – has reached Nambucca Heads from the south on what is part of the Warrell Creek to the Heads section.
But only those travelling Old Coast Rd in the past few days would have realised.
In fact, much of the new highway between Macksville and Nambucca Heads is now paved.
The new highway from Nambucca to Urunga opened last year, and the section south to Warrell Creek is scheduled to open later this year.
Member for Oxley, Melinda Pavey, who is now also the State Roads Minister, has announced the opening of a new bridge on Albert Dr as part of the Warrell Creek to Nambucca Heads Pacific Highway project.
This is the second of eight new bridges over the Pacific Highway to be opened since major work started in late 2014.
Mrs Pavey said the new bridge forms part of the Australian and NSW governments jointly funded $830 million Warrell Creek to Nambucca Heads Pacific Highway upgrade.
“The new bridge has been built to connect Albert Dr to the existing Pacific Highway at Donnellyville and crosses over the future Pacific Highway alignment being built,” she said.
“This new bridge across the future Pacific Highway alignment has been opened and motorists on the existing highway can access Albert Dr via the new intersection about 700 metres south of the existing Albert Dr intersection.
“Repair work was also carried out on Albert Dr near Rosewood Rd throughout January for the benefit of motorists.
“With the new bridge now open, the northern connection of Albert Dr to the existing Pacific Highway has now been permanently closed.
“Access to Rosewood Rd and the Pacifico community display centre continues to be via Albert Dr south and the school bus pick up and drop off point in Albert Drive will remain unchanged,” Mrs Pavey said.
Meanwhile, essential maintenance work on the existing Pacific Highway at Nambucca Heads was scheduled for completing last night.
The work included resurfacing the road between Florence Wilmont Dr and Bellwood Rd to provide a provide a safer road for motorists.
The work began on Monday, and was carried out only between the hours of 7pm and 6am, to limit the impact on traffic as some lane closures were involved.
