A joint venture between Spanish construction and transport infrastructure giant Ferrovial and Malaysian engineering, property and infrastructure company, Gamuda, has been awarded the contract to design and construct the $2.2 billion, 14km Coffs Harbour Bypass with construction expected to begin in 2023.
The Ferrovial Gamuda joint venture was announced as the winner of the contract by the New South Wales and Commonwealth governments, with the Coffs project being the final piece in the upgrade of the Pacific Highway to dual carriageway between Newcastle and the Queensland border and could save trucks up to 30 mins in travel time and considerable amounts of fuel and air pollution with the Bypass enabling vehicles to avoid 12 sets of traffic lights.
The Coffs Harbour Bypass will see a dual carriageway built from the England rd Roundabout at the southern end of Coffs Harbour running to the west of the CBD through a number of tunnels to join up with the existing Pacific motorway at Sapphire. The project will enable traffic to run at motorway speeds of 110 km/h, rather than battling the stoop start traffic that plagues the current route through the centre of the North Coast city.
The 14 kilometre, four lane divided motorway will also remove thousands of vehicles from the Coffs city centre, making life cleaner easier and mote efficient for local residents and local traffic.
The Ferrovial Gamuda joint vent has been awarded the contract, which will include the construction of three separate tunnels all around approximately one kilometre in length through ridges at Roberts Hill, Shephards Lane and Gatelys Road.
“This project will deliver a safer, faster commute to locals as well as boosting flood resilience,” said the newly elected Federal transport minister Catherine King.
“By getting thousands of vehicles out of the middle of the CBD it will give that part of Coffs Harbour back to the local community,” Minister King added.
NSW deputy premier Paul Toole, said the project will deliver a massive infrastructure project that will benefit the transport industry and Coffs Harbour.
“The project will be delivered using a single design and construct contract to ensure innovation, efficiency and value for money in bringing the plan for this bypass to life,” Toole said.
“We know how important the three tunnels are to the community’s vision for their bypass – and under the planning approvals now in place, they can be assured that’s exactly what they will get.”
The Ferrovial Gamuda joint venturers say they are thrilled to win the contract and they will be working collectively to deliver the project.
“We are thrilled to once again partner with government and deliver the final piece of the Pacific Highway upgrade program on the Mid North Coast,” Ferrovial managing director Enrique Blanco said.
Meanwhile Gamuda executive director Ewan Yee said the Coffs Bypass is an exciting project for Gamuda to be part of.
“The joint venture is focused on combining engineering smarts, environmental and sustainability innovation to ensure a positive legacy far beyond construction,” Yea said.
