Australian Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Anthony Albanese, has officially opened the $618m federally funded Kempsey Bypass in New South Wales.

Completed and opened over 15 months ahead of schedule, the new bypass is a vital part of the ongoing upgrade and duplication of the Pacific Highway, and results in faster, safer journeys.

Funded as part of the government’s Economic Stimulus Plan, the project involves building a new 3.2km bridge erected over the Macleay River and nearby floodplains.

New South Wales Minister for Roads and Ports, Duncan Gay, said that the completed 14.5km-long divided four-lane highway also includes grade separated intersections at South Kempsey and Frederickton, and allows motorists to bypass Kempsey and Frederickton.

"As well as constructing Australia’s longest bridge, the project also involved some 1.4 million cubic metres of earthworks and the building of nine smaller bridge structures for interchanges, small creek crossings, local road overpasses and a crossing of the main north south rail line."

"During the construction phase, the programme created 360 direct and 1,100 indirect jobs."

Albanese said that the bypass will transform the towns of Kempsey and Frederickton by handling up to 2,000 trucks a day off the local streets.

During the construction phase, the programme created 360 direct and 1,100 indirect jobs.

The government provided joint funding for the planning and project approval stage of the 40km Kempsey to Eungai project, of which the Kempsey Bypass is the first phase.

In a separate announcement, Albanese also released the detailed plans for the Blacksoil Interchange at the intersection of the Warrego and Brisbane Valley highways.

Initial preparation works for the project began in February with the establishment of a site office and early clearing works, with full construction works expected to commence in April 2013.