Construction of the $2.2 billion Coffs Harbour Bypass has reached the halfway point, with more than half of the project’s 21 bridges now completed.
At 250 metres long and about 16.5 metres high, the twin bridges over the North Coast Railway Line are the longest and highest for the bypass.
With the piles, columns and headstocks complete, work has now begun to install 70 massive SuperT girders using a 600-tonne crane, which is the largest to be used on the project.
The Australian and NSW Governments are jointly funding the $2.2 billion project, which is one of the largest regional infrastructure projects on Australia’s east coast.
Once complete, the bypass will reduce travel times by up to 12 minutes by allowing motorists to avoid 12 sets of traffic lights through Coffs Harbour’s CBD.
By the end of 2025, only three bridges will remain under construction, with the final asphalt surfacing to be laid across all road bridges before the bypass opens to traffic in late 2026, and full project completion expected in late 2027.
Catherine King, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government said, “The Coffs Harbour community have been promised this project for a long time, so it’s really welcome to see bridge construction on the bypass pass the halfway point.
“Labor governments have delivered legacy infrastructure like the Kempsey Bypass which cut travel times and removed trucks and traffic from the town centre. We’re now a step closer to doing that again, right here in Coffs Harbour.
“The completed project will be a big boost for Coffs, and will mean a safer and more efficient drive for motorists heading up and down the upgraded Pacific Highway.”