In November 2009, Roads and Maritime Services (formerly Roads and Traffic Authority) announced an $8.5 million package to improve safety at three locations along the Pacific Highway, which includes the 850 metre section of highway at Shark Creek.

The project rebuilt a section of the Pacific Highway, approximately 34km north of Grafton (Shark Creek Stage 3). This section was identified as having a poor crash history and poor alignment.

The proposed works are the final stage of work that has been done to improve the safety of the road between Byrons Lane and Shark Creek.

The road works include:

• Improving the existing highway alignment.
• Removing some roadside vegetation including two mature fig trees.
• Widening of the existing road shoulders.
• Widening of existing culverts.
• Reconstructing the existing pavement.

The works were to:

• Improve travel conditions for motorists.
• Improve the road surface and highway alignment.
• Improve road safety.
• Enable the existing 80 km/hr speed restrictions within the area to be removed.

Community members were invited to view and comment on the review of environmental factors for the Shark Creek proposal in April 2009.

A submissions report was compiled and is available to view or download on the project documents page.