The next phase of duplicating the Pacific Highway in New South Wales’s far-north will begin next year after the contract to work on the Tintenbar to Ewingsdale section was awarded to Baulderstone.

 

The $551 million Titenbar to Ewingsdale section upgrade will see large sections of the highway widended and duplicated to allow for substantial increases in freight and transport in the area.

 

Jointly funded by the Federal and State Governments, the upgrade will be due for completion in 2014 and represents the final phase in the Pacific Highway upgrade.

 

New South Wales Roads Minister Duncan Gay said the project will greatly expand on commuter and freight throughput.

 

“This is the only section on the Far North Coast yet to be duplicated and once complete, motorists and truck drivers can look forward to a four lane, divided highway all the way from Ballina to the Queensland border,” Mr Gay said.

 

Mr Gay announced that the planned upgrades had taken into account extensive public and community consultations to allow for environmental protection.