Joint venture selected to complete design work on the upgrade and duplication of the Pacific Highway between Woolgoolga and Glenugi
April 17, 2012
The Parsons Brinckerhoff and ARUP joint venture 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 31km 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.
“As well as commissioning the planners and designers, we’re also in the process of undertaking the work necessary to obtain environmental approval for the upgrade to proceed at the earliest opportunity,” Federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister Anthony Albanese says.
“The rebuilding of the Pacific Highway is the biggest, most complex road construction project ever undertaken in Australia. 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.
NSW Roads Minister Duncan Gay says 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.
“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.”
“Again, while this work is happening we’re also preparing the paperwork necessary to obtain the environmental approvals required before any construction activity can begin onsite.”
All up, the upgraded Pacific Highway between Woolgoolga and Ballina – a distance of some 155km – will boast ten major interchanges, new bridges across the Clarence and Richmond rivers and strategically located wildlife crossings.