The contract to deliver the final stage of the Pacific Highway Upgrade – between Pimlico and Teven – has been awarded to Georgiou Group, reaching another milestone for the project.
According to Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Darren Chester, the final stage of the upgrade project will lock in a significant section of four-lane divided highway which will have a consistent 110 km/h speed limit.
“This is an important step forward in improving safety through the northern section of the Woolgoolga to Ballina upgrade, and another step closer to delivering a safer Pacific Highway. This is Australia’s largest regional infrastructure project, with about 1,000 people currently working on this section,” Mr Chester said.
Federal Member for Page Kevin Hogan said that major works are set to begin in the coming weeks and the local community will be able to see activity ramp up in areas between Pimlico and Teven.
“This section will link the Ballina bypass to the north and the Coolgardie to Richmond River section of the upgrade to the south. Work includes replacing two Pacific Highway bridges over Duck and Emigrant Creeks, and upgrading about 1.8 kilometres of the highway’s southbound lanes from 300 metres south of Pimlico Road to 700 metres south of the Teven interchange,” Mt Hogan said.
According to NSW Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight Melinda Pavey, soft soil work has been carried out to ensure that the road’s surface will not sink and crack in the future. Mrs Pavey also stated that Pimlico Road will be moved slightly to the east in order to create a new permanent intersection with the Pacific Highway.
“The $4.36 billion Woolgoolga to Ballina upgrade is a great example of how the New South Wales and Federal Governments can work together to improve the road network for all users. At a State and Federal level, we’re committed to ensuring regional motorists have the same access to quality roads as those in the cities,” Mrs Pavey said.
Work is currently ongoing on 104 kilometres of road on the Woolgoolga to Ballina section and construction on the remaining 51 kilometres is expected to commence by mid-2017. This project – funded by the Australian and New South Wales Governments – is expected to open to traffic by 2020.
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