Project approval has been obtained for the Frederickton to Eungai upgrade.  The Frederickton to Eungai upgrade is stage 2 of the much broader 40 kilometre long Kempsey to Eungai project.  Stage one, the Kempsey Bypass is currently under construction.

The Australian and NSW governments have allocated $46 million to complete the detailed planning and begin preparing the site for the start of major construction in 2014.

Aurecon have been engaged to undertake detailed field investigations and provide Roads and Maritime Services (formerly Roads and Traffic Authority) with a comprehensive model of the ground and soil conditions along the project. The field investigations will be undertaken using specialist drilling rigs, seismic surveys and other specialist ground testing equipment. The detailed field investigations will continue until early 2012 and will assist the project team to prepared the detailed design for construction.