North Coast (incl. Coffs Harbour)

Already delivered...

Roads

• The Pacific Highway upgrade is making it easier for people to get where they need to go, cutting journey times and giving them more travel options. Motorists are already saving about two hours in travel time compared to 1996, and when it’s complete, this will increase to around 2.5 hours.
• Major sections of the Pacific Highway have already been upgraded, including the recently completed section between Port Macquarie and Coffs Harbour in June 2018, which provides 126 kilometres of four lane divided highway.
• Completing major overhauls of historically significant bridges, including Coleman’s Bridge at Lismore and Glebe Bridge at Coraki. This work has increased their loadbearing capacity, improved safety for motorists and increased the lifespan of these historical timber bridges.
• Providing a new bridge over Sportsmans Creek in Lawrence. This new bridge was open to traffic in February 2018, providing a safer road network and improving traffic efficiency for local agricultural industry, and the local community.

Delivering on the plan (future)

Roads

• Upgrading the entire Pacific Highway from Hexham to Queensland which will be complete by 2020, providing a four-lane divided road that is safer and more reliable. Major construction is under way on the remaining link between Glenugie, south of Grafton, and Ballina.
• Building a second crossing over the Clarence River at Grafton, which will be open to traffic in late 2019. This second bridge will provide an important link for local traffic travelling between Grafton and South Grafton, cutting travel times and getting families home sooner.
• Funding the Coffs Harbour bypass, which includes 14km of four lane divided highway from Englands Road in the south, to the previously upgraded section of Pacific Highway at Sapphire in the north. The bypass will improve connectivity, road transport efficiency and safety for local and interstate motorists. Construction of the bypass is expected to start in 2020 and be open to traffic in 2024.
• Building a new bridge over the Clarence River at Tabulam. The new bridge will improve road safety and traffic efficiency.
• Upgrading the England Highway at Bolivia Hill to improve road safety and traffic efficiency. Work recently started, with completion due in late 2020.

Transport

• We’re currently trialling coach services to give customers better connections between regional towns and cities. These include new services between Coffs Harbour and Forster. This is to help regional communities connect to work, medical appointments and shops, as well as family and friends in surrounding regional towns.