Pacific Highway Upgrade

Sapphire to Woolgoolga

Project snapshot

Contractors: Leighton Fulton Hogan Joint Venture
Form of contract: Design and construct contract
Workers on site: 329
Pieces of large plant: 349
Start date of major construction: August 2010
Expected completion date: Second half of 2014 (weather permitting)
Project value: $850 million *
Australian Government contribution: $632 million **
NSW State Government contribution: $73 million **

* Increased due to variations in scope and settlement of project claims.
** Contribution amounts to be adjusted for increased cost.

Background

The NSW Minister for Planning approved the project on 13 January 2009 which did not include a rest area. Roads and Maritime Services' rest area strategy for the Pacific Highway aims to provide rest areas at about 50 kilometre intervals.

The preferred location for the rest area is proposed at the Arrawarra interchange. An environmental assessment of the proposed rest area location was on display in April 2011 and a submissions report is currently being prepared.

The Sapphire to Woolgoolga Pacific Highway upgrade project is jointly funded by the Australian and NSW governments.

This project will provide a four-lane divided highway extending approximately 25 kilometres from Campbell Close, Sapphire, to Arrawarra Beach Road, Arrawarra.

For more information on the project background, view the project overview page.

Key construction activities during May and June 2013

  • Continue installation of fencing.
  • Install and maintain erosion and sediment controls.
  • Continue with the placement of concrete barriers.
  • Continue property adjustments.
  • Continue earthworks and drainage work throughout the project.
  • Continue bridge works throughout the project.
  • Continue construction of retaining walls.
  • Continue concrete pavements and flexible pavements.
  • Continue controlled blasting in a cut about 2km north-west of Woolgoolga.
  • Continue construction of Diamond Head Drive local roadworks.
  • Continuing Stage 2 of the Hearnes Lake retaining wall.
  • Continue construction of the Arrawarra, Moonee Beach, Gaudrons/Split Solitary Road, Emerald and south Woolgoolga interchanges.
  • Continuing out of hours works for saw cutting of concrete pavements.

For more information on recent construction activities, view the project construction page.

Construction continues on the bridges over Skinners Creek near Bucca Road at Moonee Construction continuing on the Gaudrons Road interchange and the northbound and southbound carriageways south of Gaudrons Road at Sapphire Construction continuing on the roundabouts at the Moonee Beach interchange Earthworks continuing looking north from Graham Drive south at Emerald Beach Earthworks continuing on the Gaudrons Road interchange at Sapphire Beach on the upgrade Earthworks continuning at Sapphire on the upgrade Earthworks looking north from Emerald Beach to the roundabout and overpass under construction at Graham Drive south, Emerald Heights Earthworks looking south to the Moonee Beach interchange on the upgrade Looking south to Bucca Road, Moonee Beach on the upgrade Paving underway on the northbound and southbound carriageways under the Greys Road bridge on the bypass Paving underway on the northbound carriageway looking north from Unwins Road to Greys Road on the Woolgoolga bypass Aerial view of the paving machine laying concrete pavement on the upgrade Construction continues on the bridges over Poundyard Creek on the bypass Work continues on the local road tie-in works for Crystal Drive, Sapphire Beach Preparing for the switching of local traffic over the Headland Road overpass at Sapphire Beach Construction continuing on the northbound and southbound carriageways to the north of the Gaudrons Road interchange at Sapphire Beach Looking north, earthworks underway near the bridge at Graham Drive south at Sandy Beach Work underway for the traffic switch onto the northbound carriageway at the northern tie-in at Arrawarra Earthworks looking south to Gaudrons Road bridge on the upgrade Earthworks continuing looking south from Woolgoolga Creek Road on the bypass Looking north from Woolgoolga Creek Road, work continues on the construction of the Woolgoolga Creek twin bridges Bark Hut Road bridge under construction on the bypass Work continuing on the construction of the Arrawarra interchange