A $40M boost for Pacific Highway's safety upgrade - Roads & Infrastructure Magazine

A $40M boost for Pacific Highway’s safety upgrade

Pacific Highway safety improvements, Karuah to Middle Brother. Image courtesy of Transport for NSW.

The Australian and New South Wales Governments are investing almost $40 million through the Road Safety Program on a suite of projects along the Pacific Highway between Karuah and Middle Brother.

The safety projects are part of the nearly $300 million committed by the Federal Government and a further $108.2 million committed by the NSW Government in March 2021 to fund state-wide upgrades under the first phase of the Road Safety program.

The New South Wales Government earmarked a total of $683.5 million towards road safety investments in the state as part of the State Budget 2021-22.

NSW Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole said these works built upon the safety benefits already delivered from duplicating the 657-kilometre stretch of the Pacific Highway from Hexham to the Queensland border, which crossed the finish line in December.

“We know what a game changer the Pacific Highway upgrade has been – a $15 billion investment by the Australian and NSW Governments, creating more than 100,000 jobs over the multi-generational build, and reducing fatalities by more than 75 per cent,” Mr Toole said.

“Now we’re going to see even greater safety dividends because we continue to invest in projects like these that are designed to save lives on our roads.”

Transport for NSW will fast-track delivery of projects at Karuah, Topi Topi, Coolongolook, Cundletown, Ghinni Ghinni and Middle Brother.

Work at Middle Brother has been under way since May and will be carried out intermittently until December.

“Crews have been improving the road shoulders along a three-kilometre section of highway, and installing wire rope safety barriers and rumble strips,” State Member for Port Macquarie Leslie Williams said.

State Member for Myall Lakes Stephen Bromhead said work will be starting on an 11.75-kilometre stretch at Ghinni Ghinni later this year to resurface and improve road levels and install rumble strips on both the northbound and southbound lanes, as well as installing sections of new safety barriers.

“Planning is also under way for improvements at the Cundletown interchange to increase safety and access for larger freight vehicles by lengthening and improving the curve of the on and off ramps,” Mr Bromhead said.

The Pacific Highway is the busiest transport and freight route north of Newcastle. More than 25,000 motorists travel along the Pacific Highway each day.

All projects are expected to be completed by the end of 2022. Motorists are advised to drive to the conditions, and follow the direction of signs and traffic control. For more information on these projects, please visit nswroads.work/pacific.