SMEC secures design contract on Pacific Hwy upgrade

SMEC has been awarded the contract with Roads & Maritime Services (RMS) to undertake the detailed design of an 18-kilometre section of the Pacific Highway upgrade.

The contract is for the 18-kilometre stretch of New South Wales’ highway from Broadwater to Pimlico.

The Pacific Highway upgrade is one of the largest road infrastructure projects ever undertaken in NSW. Approximately 408 kilometres (62 per cent) of the highway between Hexham and the Queensland border is now a four-lane divided road, 145 kilometres of highway is currently under construction, and all remaining sections are being prepared for the commencement of major works.

The firm has extensive design experience on the Pacific Highway upgrade, having completed design works on the Banora Point upgrade, the Bulahdelah Bypass, Brunswick Heads to Yelgun (7 kilometres of carriageway), Warrell Creek to Nambucca Heads (20 kilometres of carriageway) and the Ballina Bypass (11 kilometres of carriageway).

“SMEC has built a solid reputation with RMS for delivering quality services on time and within budget”, explains James Phillis, SMEC’s Regional Director for NSW and ACT.

As part of the greater 155-kilometre Woolgoolga to Ballina Upgrade, Broadwater to Pimlico will comprise a new greenfields section and the duplication of the existing highway to form a 110 kilometre-per-hour four-lane dual carriageway.

Scheduled for completion in 2020, the Woolgoolga to Ballina upgrade will signal the completion of the Pacific Highway upgrade to a dual carriageway.

SMEC’s services on the project will include: detailed geometric design of the highway; flood studies; detailed cross drainage and longitudinal drainage design (with water quality basins); detailed design of 12 bridges, drainage culverts and retaining walls; and design of pavements and road furniture.

“A key reason SMEC believes it was awarded this contract, is thanks to its unique appreciation for the local area, including a strong team of key people who live locally and work in SMEC’s Grafton office,” states Mr. Phillis. Many of SMEC’s project team members have previous experience working on sections of the Pacific Highway, both in an engineering capacity and in carrying out studies to help RMS mitigate the highway’s impact on local flora and fauna.”

Upon completion, the highway upgrade will: improve road conditions, reduce road accidents, support regional and economic development, improve services for local communities, reduce travel time, increase transport efficiency and improve road reliability.