Pacific Highway upgrade work
Ferrovial-Acciona consortium completes the upgrade of the final 6km section on the Pacific Highway. Credit: Ferrovial.

A Ferrovial-Acciona consortium has completed the upgrade of the final 6km section of the Pacific Highway between Warrell Creek and Nambucca Heads in New South Wales (NSW), Australia.

In December, the consortium opened the initial 14km-long stretch of the road.

The project is part of a larger highway upgrade, which was initiated to further enhance road safety, transport efficiency and relieve seasonal traffic congestion.

Australian and New South Wales governments have jointly funded the project.

“The Pacific Highway upgrade project featured construction of 15 bridges, a rail underpass, two new interchanges and access ramps at North Macksville.”

In April 2014, the consortium was selected as the preferred bidder for the Pacific Highway upgrade contract. It was Ferrovial’s first major infrastructure contract in the country.

Design and construction of a 20km section of the highway between Warrell Creek and Nambucca Heads in NSW were included in the project.

The Pacific Highway upgrade project featured construction of 15 bridges, including a major 850m bridge over the Nambucca River, a rail underpass, two new interchanges and access ramps at North Macksville.

Additionally, the project has created more than 650 employment opportunities during the peak construction period, with more than 5,000 inductions completed on site.

Local subcontractors were involved in the project, which helped to create valuable revenue streams and employment opportunities.

Ferrovial is a Spanish company engaged in the design, construction, financing, operation and maintenance of transport, urban and services infrastructure across the world.

The company achieved financial close for the Western Roads Upgrade project in December by obtaining A$1,800m (€1,150m).