Coffs Harbour Bypass: one Big Banana

Construction challenge

Like many projects, it is the more difficult ones that are left to last, and this project is no exception.

There are only a few locations on the east coast where the Great Dividing Range meets the Pacific Ocean, and Coffs Harbour is one of these. With the landform and the subtropical climate, one of the biggest challenges will be earthworks and managing wet weather impacts during construction.

Work is well underway, with all property acquisitions and most of the service relocation and associated early work complete, meaning the joint venture partners who will carry out most of the major work have a clear run to go ahead with construction.

Building of the site offices is complete, critical staff and contractors have been engaged and work on some of the cuttings are set to begin. The next phase will include work on three tunnels later in the year.

The project will include 15 bridges that include under-and overpasses plus four major interchanges to ensure the bypass is also a key traffic route for locals.

Fauna connectivity structures to enable animals to travel over and under the bypass; and noise mounds and walls including 14 kilometres of low-noise pavement.