Construction on the Coffs Harbour bypass is powering ahead, with work beginning on the project’s final bridge and a series of traffic changes set to roll out across the city from this week.
The 14-kilometre bypass will allow motorists to avoid up to 12 sets of traffic lights along the Pacific Highway through Coffs Harbour, cutting travel times by up to 12 minutes and reducing congestion in the CBD.
The project is jointly funded by the Albanese and Minns Labor Governments as part of a $2.27 billion investment in regional NSW.
Federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine King said the project was progressing rapidly.
“Work on the final bridge has begun, and it is incredible to see how quickly the Coffs Harbour bypass is taking shape,” Ms King said.
“This project will transform Coffs Harbour, taking traffic and trucks out of the CBD.”
Once complete, the bypass, alongside the M1 to Raymond Terrace extension, will create a continuous motorway link between Sydney and Brisbane without traffic lights or major stop-start bottlenecks.
Construction crews have now started work on the final bridge, which will form the future southbound Pacific Highway underpass north of Opal Boulevard at Korora.
The bridge is part of a twin-bridge structure, with the northbound bridge already completed and open to traffic.
When operational, the underpass will connect the service road west of the highway with Solitary Islands Way.
Piling work is currently underway, with columns, girders and a major retaining wall to follow as construction progresses.
The project has already delivered the Luke Bowen Pedestrian Bridge, which officially opened last year to improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists crossing the Pacific Highway. The bridge was named in honour of local boy Luke Bowen, who died 28 years ago.
Several temporary traffic changes will also begin from early June to support the next phase of construction.
Right-in and right-out turns at the Charlesworth Bay Road and Pacific Highway intersection, along with the Roselands Drive and Coramba Road intersection, will be temporarily restricted while crews build a new signalised intersection and shared user path.
Motorists requiring right-turn access will be directed to alternative intersections and existing interchanges.
Further south, the Pacific Highway and Englands Road/Stadium Drive intersection will shift west to a temporary roundabout to allow the existing roundabout to be removed and traffic lights installed.
Shared pedestrian and cyclist paths will also be temporarily relocated during the works.
The changes are expected to help accelerate construction and reduce the amount of work required in the Boambee area during 2027.
NSW Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison thanked the community for its patience during construction.
“We thank the community for their patience during construction of this 14-kilometre project, and the workers who’ve kept it tracking on time, despite enormous weather challenge over the past few years,” Ms Aitchison said.
“The Coffs Harbour bypass will be a gamechanger for our state, taking 12,000 vehicles, including heavy freight out of the CBD – allowing tourists to discover the area, and helping motorists avoid up to 12 sets of traffic lights.”
The bypass is expected to open to traffic in late 2026, with overall project completion scheduled for late 2027.
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