A $20 million program of safety improvements to the Big River Way (previously the Pacific Highway) has now been completed by the NSW Government, giving motorists a safer, longer lasting and better-quality road.
The list of completed work on the 42-kilometre section of road between Glenugie and Tyndale includes:
- 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 and;
- pavement rehabilitation, shoulder widening, installation of a one metre wide median and safety barrier installation between Cowells Lane and Cowper
Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison said:
"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.
"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."
Emily Suvaal MLC, Labor spokesperson for Clarence said:
"These works on the Big River Way have delivered safety improvements through the widening of the centreline in a number of locations, the installation of wire rope barriers in the median and roadside safety barriers.
"A wider centre line provides extra distance between oncoming vehicles, which reduces the risk of collision, while the wire barriers are designed to prevent vehicles crossing to the wrong side of the road.
"We've also improved intersections at Eight Mile and Six Mile lanes, at Centenary Drive, Heber Street in South Grafton, Swan and McLachlans lanes and Coldstream Road."
