Ballina Bypass, Australia

Ballina Bypass is a 12km long four-way dual carriageway linking the Pacific Highway in North Ballina with the Bruxner Highway Intersection in South Ballina. It extends from South Ballina to North Tintenbar.

The bypass is being constructed to reduce the traffic congestion, improve the road safety and provide easier access to the road to local traffic.

The construction has been divided into two stages. The first stage is a 5.9km stretch extending from Cumbalum to Ross lane. It was opened to traffic in March 2011. The second stage will link the Bruxner highway to the Cumbalum interchange. It is currently under construction and will be inaugurated in mid-2012.

The project is being managed by the Australian Government and the New South Wales (NSW) road authority. It is estimated to cost around $640m.

More than 230 people have been recruited for the construction of the bypass.

Ballina Bypass project

The project received approval from the Australian government in May 2003. It includes a new 12km carriageway divided into four lanes with a speed limit of 100km/h. The road between the Bruxner Highway and the Teven Road Interchange will be divided into six lanes.

It involves major construction works at the Bruxner Interchange, Cumbalum Interchange, Teven Road Interchange, Sandy Flat Creek Road and Ross Lane.

The project will also include alignment of new interchanges at Teven and Ross lane. New bridges will be constructed over the Emigrant Creek and Sandy Flat Creeks Road. A total of 19 bridges will have to be constructed over the waterways.

The traffic on Bruxner Highway and the Pacific Highway will be separated to reduce the traffic congestion and improve safety.

Contractors involved in constructing the dual carriageway

The Roads and Traffic Authority (NSW) obtained the contract for the initial works of the Ballina Bypass in August 2006. It formed a consortium in 2008 for the design and construction of the project. The consortium comprised of Leighton Contractors, Maunsell / AECOM, SMEC and Coffey Geotechnics.

Financing the road improvement project

The project cost of $640m is being funded entirely by the Australian Government in collaboration with the Roads and Traffic Authority (NSW).

Construction of the Ballina Bypass

The minor construction works were initiated in October 2006 and completed by December 2006. They included construction of embankments and location of the soft soil areas.

Major works were initiated in June 2008 and are expected to be completed by mid 2012.

The Teven Road Roundabout was opened to traffic in May 2011. The construction works at the Ross Lane Roundabout have been finished. The construction of culverts beneath the new highway built to the south of Teven interchange was initiated in May 2011. The piling and abutment works at the old Pacific Highway are in progress. The construction works involving bridge structures is almost complete.

The piling works for the McLeay bridge platform were initiated in June 2011. Other works which were carried out in June 2011 included landscaping and pavement works at the Teven Road Bridge, road widening at Bruxner Highway and pavement works at Emigrant Creek Bridge.

A single span bridge being constructed over the Tamarind drive adjacent to the Pacific Highway will be completed by August 2011. A small bridge will be constructed over the Dead Man's Creek adjacent to the old Pacific Highway. Construction of all the new bridges on the new alignment of the Pacific Highway will be completed by August 2011.

Construction works on the Cumbalum flood relief bridges will also be completed by August 2011.

Construction works on the western roundabout will be initiated in August 2011. Other works include demolition of the concrete plant at Tintenbar and management of the soft soils at the site.

The construction will require approximately 1.7 million cubic metres of earthwork and 100,000 cubic metres of concrete.