The Australian and New South Wales (NSW) Governments have awarded contracts worth about A$3bn ($2.30bn) on the 155km Woolgoolga to Ballina section of the Pacific Highway upgrade.

Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Darren Chester said that completed works along the full Pacific Highway length are already delivering safer roads and reducing fatalities.

Chester said: “The first two sections of the Woolgoolga to Ballina upgrade, 22km of new divided highway between Woolgoolga and Glenugie, were recently opened, delivering a safer and more reliable road network along the New South Wales north coast.”

The transport authorities have awarded the contract for the main civil work between Iluka Road and Devils Pulpit to BMD Constructions.

“The transport authorities have awarded the contract for the main civil work between Iluka Road and Devils Pulpit to BMD Constructions.”

NSW Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight Melinda Pavey said: “This will involve upgrading a 14.9km section of highway, creating about 120 jobs, with about 2,500 direct and 7,500 indirect jobs expected to be supported in the broader workforce at the peak of work of the project.”

Federal Member for Division of Page Kevin Hogan said that the latest contract awarded was the final civil contract on the Woolgoolga to Ballina section.

The upgrade project is jointly funded by the Australian and NSW governments and is expected to be completed by 2020.

Starting about six kilometres north of Woolgoolga, the Woolgoolga to Ballina project ends about six kilometres south of Ballina.