Safety improvements to the Big River Way – previously known as the Pacific Highway – have now been completed by the NSW government, totalling $20 million spent on the project.
Completed works on the 42km stretch of road between Glenugie and Tyndale in the state’s north include:
- The installation of centre median wire rope barriers at Glenugie
- The installation of roadside barriers, wide centreline and full pavement rehabilitation between Six Mile and Reillys lanes
- Installation of wide centreline and full pavement rehabilitation at Bom Bom south of Grafton
- Removal of trees from within the clear zone and shoulder widening at Oppys Gully
- Removal of trees and placement of roadside safety barrier north of Eight Mile Lane
- Upgrading of safety barriers at Cowper
- Pavement rehabilitation, shoulder widening, installation of a one metre wide median and safety barrier installation between Cowells Lane and Cowper
“The Big River Way, as the former Pacific Highway, carried large volumes of traffic, making it difficult to carry out major improvements without impacting heavily on motorists,” says state roads minister Jenny Aitchison.
“The opening of the Pacific Motorway has reduced traffic volumes on the Big River Way significantly, allowing us to complete these much-needed projects.
“Before the motorway opened 10,000 vehicles (including 2000 heavy vehicles) passed through places like Ulmarra each day.
“Since the motorway opened, the number of vehicles has fallen by between about 5000 to 6500 vehicles a day, including heavy vehicles, a massive boost for safety and easing congestion for local motorists.”