Northern region

Pacific Highway Safety Works

On 30 June 2006 the NSW Minister for Roads and the Australian Government Minister for Transport and Regional Services, signed a Memorandum of Understanding for extra funds for the Pacific Highway for a range of major safety projects on unduplicated sections of the Pacific Highway around Nambucca Heads, between Grafton and Ballina, including Tabbimobile and Shark Creek.

A further announcement in July 2006 was made that $20 million would be used to meet the cost of safety projects on other unduplicated sections of the road including:

  • Widening to provide adequate shoulders for 3.8km between Nambucca and Urunga.
  • Widening to provide adequate shoulders and minor curve improvements for 2 km between Halfway Creek and Glenugie.
  • Widening to provide adequate shoulders with minor curve improvements for 4 km between Tyndale and Maclean; and for
  • A truck vehicle inspection bay at Kundabung

Features

The objectives of the Pacific Highway safety works are:

  • To reduce the severity and incidence of road accidents.
  • To implement cost effective safety improvements.
  • To minimise the impact on the natural and social environment.
  • To implement improvements for the longer term use of the highway.

Safety improvements

A number of projects have been completed as part of the Pacific Highway Safety Work (PHSW) program. These are:

Nortons Road - 5km south of Woodburn

This project is part of an on-going strategy to provide improved pavement conditions and upgraded alignment and separation of traffic within a fatigue zone from Tabbimoble to Woodburn. The work included completion of curve realignment, shoulder widening and central wire rope safety barrier.

Pine Road – 66km north of Grafton

This project includes development for approximately 3km of pavement widening, realignment and enhanced centreline separation for north and south bound traffic. Pine Road Stage 1 was opened to traffic in June 2008. A Wire Rope Safety Fence will be installation with Pine Road Stage II work. 

Shark Creek Stage 2 – 34km north of Grafton

This project includes curve realignment, shoulder widening and pavement rehabilitation through an area with a high crash history. 

Bald Knob - 22km south of Grafton

This project included shoulder widening and minor pavement shape correction.  As part of this project a northbound heavy vehicle inspection site was constructed.

Franklins Road – south of Grafton

This project included the construction of a southbound heavy vehicle inspection site.

Dalhousie Creek - 4km south of Urunga

This project include shoulder widening and pavement rehabilitation south of Hungry Head Turn intersection.

Bourkes Lane to Ballards Road – 73km north of Kempsey

The project included sections of shoulder widening, clearzone improvements and changes to lane merges, to improve safety between Burkes lane and Ballards road.

Turners Road1.75 km in length

The project included a curve realignment, shoulder widening, central wire rope safety barrier and part pavement rehabilitation.