Project DescriptionThis project will provide an 11.5 km bypass of Ballina from the Bruxner Highway and rejoin the current Highway at Tintenbar north of Ross Lane. It will shorten the current route and offer a travel time saving of up to 12 minutes. It will avoid the current 5 roundabouts, traffic lights and 60kph speed zone and take the highway traffic out of the urban area of Ballina. The RTA has formed an alliance comprising the RTA, Leighton Contractors, Maunsell AECOM, SMEC and Coffey Geotechnics to design and build the Ballina Bypass. The project will involve: - 11.5 km of new dual carriageway, generally 4 lanes with 6 lanes between the Bruxner Highway and Teven Rd;
- interchanges at Teven Rd and Cumbalum;
- bridges over Emigrant, Duck and Sandy Flat Creeks and a flood relief structure at Cumbalum;
- flood immunity of 1 in 20 years;
- major soft/compressible soils embankment pre-loading works which are underway; and
- compensatory wetland.
This is a technically difficult project due to the depth of soft/compressible soils of the floodplain. BenefitsThe Pacific Highway through Ballina is part of the National Land Transport Network between Sydney and Brisbane and is a major corridor for freight, business and tourism travel. This section of the Pacific Highway is experiencing substantial growth in traffic volumes. It has an unsatisfactory safety record and suffers noticeable traffic congestion. There is a high level of conflict between local traffic within Ballina and the through traffic using the Pacific Highway. This project will improve road safety, reduce travel times and operating costs for road users and reduce highway maintenance costs. New dual carriageways will provide safer overtaking, separate the northbound and southbound traffic streams and provide for the forecast traffic growth. It will also improve traffic conditions within the urban area of Ballina. FundingThe Australian Government has previously provided $129 million for the project in 2006-07 to 2008-09 and has committed $397 million in the Nation Building Program to 2013-14, bringing the total Australian Government commitment to $526 million. The remaining funds will be met by the NSW Government. TimetableMain construction commenced in May 2008 and the bypass is expected to be open to traffic in 2012. |