By rosebell
Construction of the first phase of the 14km Coffs Harbour Bypass project in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, was completed by a consortium of Ferrovial and Gamuda Australia.
The date of commencing the excavation process from northbound tube of the 410m Gatelys Road Tunnel by the tunneling team was late October, that followed by the southbound tube shortly after. This marks the first stage in constructing the three planned tunnels for the bypass at Roberts Hill, Shephards Lane, and Gatelys Road.
As an collaboration between the Australian government, that is investing A$1.76bn ($1.16bn), and the NSW government, contributing A$440m ($289.6m), the Coffs Harbour Bypass project is jointly funded. Being designed to carry two lanes of traffic, with space for cyclists, each of the three tunnels will have two tubes.
According to NSW Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison: “The next breakthrough at the 320m Shephards Lane tunnel is anticipated by mid-April next year. The work continues despite traditional tunnel boring machines not being used for the shorter tunnels due to mobilisation time and costs, said the Minister.”
He also added: “We see and hear regularly about tunnel projects around Sydney where tunnellers bore largely through sandstone or similar softer materials, but here in Coffs it’s been more challenging due to the material and location. I want to thank the project team for their hard work and commitment to delivering this critical piece of enabling transport infrastructure for the Coffs region and the entire country.”
Digging the tunnel floors, installing permanent linings, conducting drainage work, as well as building pavements, are the workers plane after the recent tunnel breakthroughs, whereas the are also expected to complete the installation of mechanical, electrical, fire safety, and intelligent transport systems.
While the scheduled date for inauguration this bypass is late 2026, it is going to decrese travel times while diverting almost 12,000 vehicles daily from the centre of Coffs Harbour, onece completed.
The winner of the A$1.5bn ($990m) design and construct contract from Transport for NSW in June 2022 was Gamuda Australia and Ferrovial and the consortium’s work includes constructing three tunnels, approximately 12km of new road, and about 2km of upgraded highway.
As the final section of the M1 Pacific Highway, the Coffs Harbour Bypass upgrade to a four-lane road between Hexham and the Queensland border.
