Pacific Highway objectives

Along the Pacific Highway from Hexham to the Queensland border, the NSW State and Federal Governments have been working to build a safer and better highway. Accident-prone sections are being replaced with median-separated dual carriageways, and sections with major traffic congestion are gradually being improved. The NSW Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) is managing the program with a view to achieving a balance between social, ecological, engineering and cost factors, while providing adequately for the future transport needs of highway users and NSW North Coast communities. The section of the highway between Karuah to Bulahdelah is one of these important Pacific Highway upgrade projects.

Upgrading the Pacific Highway to save lives and provide better travelling conditions is important, but the highway is also being developed in a way that is ecologically sustainable and achieves the best overall outcome for the community.

Pacific Highway Upgrading Program Objectives

The Pacific Highway Upgrading Program is the single largest construction program in NSW for the last 40 years. The program has brought major improvements to road conditions and travel times. As well as boosting tourism and transport efficiency, and providing safer and more consistent overtaking opportunities, the upgraded Pacific Highway has saved lives and reduced serious injury accidents.

The RTA Pacific Highway Upgrading Program objectives are to:

Significantly reduce road accidents and injuries.
Reduce travel times.
Reduce freight transport costs.
Develop a route that involves the community and considers their interests.
Provide a route that supports economic development.
Manage the upgrading of the route in accordance with Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD) principles.
Provide the best value for money.