Project updates
Hit the road these holidays with our Paving Fact Sheet
Major paving work started on the bypass in September 2024 and will continue into early 2027, when the project is completed.
Fine tune your project knowledge with some concrete facts! Read our Paving Fact Sheet (PDF 971.76KB).
Year in review
Take a journey through the past year’s achievements with our Year in Review . Featuring stunning stills and dynamic footage, this video showcases milestones across the project’s major precincts. Highlights from 2024 include the lifting of all steel trusses for the new Luke Bowen pedestrian bridge, the blasting breakthrough of the Gatelys Tunnel, and the seamless traffic switches at Bruxner Park Road and Old Coast Road. Celebrate the progress and see how far we’ve come together!
Coffs Harbour bypass - year in review (extended version)
Operational Noise Review released
The Operational Noise Review (ONR) for the Coffs Harbour bypass has been approved by the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure is available publicly.
The ONR is an update which is based on refinements to the bypass during the detailed design phase.
The ONR has identified 21 additional properties for possible at-house noise mitigation treatment and 15 properties have an increase in treatment level. These property owners are being contacted directly by the project team.
Predicted noise levels are largely consistent with the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)/Amendment Report and noise wall heights are either the same or have increased from what was described in the EIS/Amendment Report. The locations of noise walls are also consistent with what was described in the project’s EIS/Amendment Report.
Further, the ONR confirms the height for the eight kilometres of noise walls to be built along the alignment.
Low noise pavement will also be laid on the mainline carriageway and the Korora Hill Interchange roundabouts.
For more information read:
- Operational Noise Review report
- Operational Noise Review factsheet (PDF 256.86KB)
- Operational Noise Review Frequently Asked Questions (PDF 304.37KB)
December project update
This month, the Coffs Harbour bypass launched a new digital platform on our project website. The community is now able to see regular construction progress and what work is happening in their area. The platform allows people to plan their journeys ahead of temporary traffic switches and for the operational phase.
Excavation has been completed at the top of Gatelys Road tunnel and the team is expecting to complete excavation at the bottom of the tunnel in early 2025. Read more in our latest Project Update (PDF 615.87KB)
Construction work on the Coffs Harbour bypass will shut down by 6pm on Friday 20 December and will resume at 7am on Monday 6 January 2025.
As another year draws to a close, we would like to thank the community and motorists for your patience and support during construction of the Coffs Harbour bypass.
Register now for December precinct webinars
The Coffs Harbour bypass project team is running construction update webinars during December.
The webinars will cover construction progress, key features, changes to local access, and operational wayfinding.
Two sessions will be held this month on Thursday 5 and Tuesday 10 December. The team will add more should demand require.
Register now via Eventbrite.
Report card – November 2024
The November 2024 report card for the Coffs Harbour bypass highlights significant progress in tunnelling, Luke Bowen pedestrian bridge and new local accesses.
Construction progress showreel - October 2024
Enjoy our latest video showreel, taking you over, under and inside the Coffs Harbour bypass. Bridge girder lifts and deck pours are progressing well, and our interchange roundabouts are taking shape. Enjoy a trip inside the Gatelys Road tunnel where the team are busily preparing to break through in coming months.
Coffs Harbour bypass – Construction Update Showreel – October 2024
October photobook out now
Check out the Coffs Harbour bypass October Photobook, showcasing the latest construction progress in image form.
You’ll be amazed at the pace of bridge construction and can take a virtual look inside Gatelys Road Tunnel. We hope you enjoy.
Building the new Luke Bowen pedestrian bridge
After months of planning and preparation, the new Luke Bowen pedestrian bridge steel trusses were lifted in October. Check out our video of the main span lift for the bridge.
We are building a new bridge as the existing Luke Bowen Footbridge only spans four lanes of traffic, while the new one will span eight lanes.
Our next steps will be to pour the concrete deck, add mesh screens and do finishing work before the new bridge opens in early 2025.
Once the new bridge is open, we will demolish the existing one in 2025.
For road users, remember to plan your journey and to ACT – be Aware, be Cautious, allow more Time.
Luke Bowen Bridge Span Lift
Drone flyover video
Please enjoy the latest drone flyover video of the Coffs Harbour bypass.
Parts of the new Luke Bowen pedestrian bridge have arrived and are being prepared for lifting in coming months. Our other bridges are reaching new heights with the landing of planks and Super T girders, and our first concrete deck pour completed. The three interchanges at Englands Road, Coramba Road and Korora Hill are taking shape – spot the concrete sub-base being laid on the western roundabout at the Englands Road Interchange.
Final Place Design and Landscape Plan now available
The Coffs Harbour bypass has released the final Place Design and Landscape Plan detailing the completed bypass's urban, architectural, and landscape design proposals.
Read them here:
Community consultation on the draft plan occurred in December 2023. A Consultation Summary Report has been prepared to summarise and respond to the feedback received. Thank you to everyone who submitted.
Manage your journey
We understand traffic changes are disruptive for road users and appreciate your patience during the construction of the Coffs Harbour bypass.
Conditions are continuing to change in the area, so we are asking motorists to please ACT:
- Be Aware: Keep up to date with the project and the latest traffic changes.
- Be Cautious: Follow signage, drive to the conditions, and follow the direction of traffic control.
- Allow more Time: Access arrangements will continue to change. Plan for minor delays and be patient on the road.
Please subscribe to our email list to keep informed about traffic changes and help you plan your journey.
Resources
You can access key resources for the Coffs Harbour bypass that provide detailed information on our construction activities and procedures. This includes construction updates, factsheets, environment reports, and other supporting documents.
Each of them has been produced to help inform how we are building the bypass with safety, environment, and community in mind.
Resource library
Online webinars
Get your construction news from the comfort of home! Join the project team to learn about a range of topics, including:
- construction progress
- earthworks
- tunnelling
- traffic changes and more.
Each webinar will run for about 45 minutes with an opportunity to ask questions at the end. Keep your eye on our registration page for new and upcoming sessions. We look forward to meeting you online soon.
Past webinar recordings are available below:
About the Coffs Harbour bypass
The 14km Coffs Harbour bypass will take vehicles west of the urban area, from Englands Road in the south to Sapphire in the north.
The project is part of the Pacific Highway upgrade, funded by the Australian and NSW governments.
For more information and documentation for the approvals of the Coffs Harbour bypass visit the NSW Planning Portal.
The existing highway through Coffs Harbour forms part of the Sydney - Brisbane freight corridor and carries between 30,000 and 35,000 vehicles per day (2016).
Road users need to navigate a 12km low speed arterial road with 12 sets of traffic signals, a major roundabout and 26 other intersections. This means the area experiences:
- A motorist, cyclist and pedestrian casualty rate more than three times higher than expected of a road of this class.
- Increased travel time and inefficient on-road freight operation.
- Loss of economic development opportunities.
- A decrease in the amenity of Coffs Harbour CBD.
By providing a bypass of Coffs Harbour consistent with the current standards of the Pacific Highway upgrade program, the project addresses declining transport efficiency, urban congestion and road safety issues.
It will support regional development and provide:
- Safer, more consistent and reliable travel.
- Reduced travel times with improved freight transport efficiency to better. access towns and villages on the north coast.
- Improved amenity for local communities.
- A more reliable route with improved flood tolerance.
Image
A static map of the Coffs Harbour Bypass. The Bypass starts at the bottom left of the map in Boambee, and continues north through North Boambee Valley and Red Hill. It then heads north-east through Korora, Korora Basin, then concludes at Sapphire Beach at the top right of the map. You can view further information such as articles/resources on project updates, work notifications, Environment and community information on the resources page.
Gallery
Coffs Harbour bypass project contact
For further information about this project, contact or visit us at:
Email: community@CHBteam.com.au
Phone: 1800 550 621
Mail: P.O. Box 565, Toormina, NSW 2452