Highway design team announced
A JOINT venture between Parsons Brinckerhoff and ARUP has been selected to complete the detailed design work on the upgrade and duplication of the Pacific Highway between Woolgoolga and Glenugie.
The Woolgoolga to Glenugie Upgrade is scheduled to be completed by late 2016 and will duplicate 31 kilometres of highway, install a new interchange at Range Road, erect bridges across Corindi Creek and the nearby flood plain and build new overpasses at Sherwood Creek and Kangaroo Trail roads.
NSW Roads Minister Duncan Gay also confirmed today that contracts have been awarded for the geotechnical investigations which will assess the physical properties of the soil and rock beneath the route of the new Pacific Highway.
"I'm pleased to announce that Robert Carr and Associates will perform the work on the Woolgoolga to Glenugie section, Coffey and GHD has won the contract for the Glenugie to Devils Pulpit section, and Golder Associates and ARUP will be responsible for the section between Devils Pulpit and Ballina," Mr Gay said.
"Given the terrain and flood prone nature of this part of the State, the work now being undertaken by these geotechnical engineers and geologists is vital to making sure the new Pacific Highway is built on solid foundations and able to withstand even the most extreme of weather events."
Federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister Anthony Albanese said this announcement is part of a major national project that has many benefits.
"The rebuilding of the Pacific Highway is the biggest, most complex road construction project ever undertaken in Australia," Mr Albanese said.
"This multi-billion nation building endeavour will reduce road deaths, slash travel times between our largest and third largest city as well as lift national productivity. That's why, we're determined to complete the job sooner rather than later."
All up, the upgraded Pacific Highway between Woolgoolga and Ballina - a distance of some 155 kilometres - will boast 10 major interchanges, new bridges across the Clarence and Richmond rivers and strategically located wildlife crossings.
