By rosebell
Following that blasting crews have completed the 160m Roberts Hill Tunnel, the third and final tunnel on the project, tunneling has been completed on Australia’s Coffs Harbour Bypass.
Responsiility of removing half a million tonnes of rock using 280 tonnes of explosives across 570 controlled blasts, was up to Ferrovial Gamuda JV.
The date of completing tunneling for the 320m Shephards Lane Tunnel was earlier this year, whereas the 410m Gatelys Road Tunnel was completed last year.
Once all three tunnels now broken through on the A$2.2bn (€1.23bn) project in New South Wales, work will shift to preparing them for traffic, that includes installing drainage systems and laying road pavement.
Before opening to traffic in late 2026, each tunnel will be fitted with mechanical, electrical, fire, safety and electronic signage.
Two traffic lanes plus a bicycle lane will be the contents of each tunnel.
Following completion, the bypass is slated to allow motorists on the Pacific Highway to skip up to 12 sets of traffic lights, cutting 12 minutes off travel times, and will remove thousands of vehicles and trucks from Coffs Harbour’s CBD streets.
