TAXI drivers hear a lot as they drive their passengers around, and one local driver on the Coffs Coast has heard many times that people are concerned about the proposed Coffs Harbour Bypass bringing a lot of extra traffic to the roads that lead on to the Coramba Road interchange.

Having been involved in these conversations, he told News Of The Area, “When the bypass comes in a few years time there’s going to be a lot more traffic up and down Coramba Road.

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“You’re probably aware of how busy that road is at the moment.

“You can see a nightmare coming.

“It’s already bad trying to get up and down there at different times of the day because it’s so narrow.

“You go out there on Tuesday morning when the rubbish trucks are out, it takes ages to get through there if you’re stuck behind one,” he said.

“It would be interesting to hear Gurmesh Singh’s view on it,” he closed.

Using information sourced from the Coffs Harbour Bypass Amendment Report Volume 2A page 19, Mr Singh told NOTA, “Traffic modelling on local roads adjacent to the bypass project predicts that traffic on most local roads will reduce once the bypass is complete.

“This data was updated in the Amendment Report in 2020.

“Specifically, around the Coramba Road intersection, the forecast traffic on Coramba Road between the Robin Street to Shephards Lane section will see traffic volumes reduce by fifteen percent, and from Shephards Lane west to the bypass traffic will increase by thirteen percent.

“The design of the Coffs Bypass route means that residents of west Coffs Harbour or those travelling from over Red Hill who are heading south to the hospital, the stadium or Sawtell, or north to Woolgoolga or Moonee, will likely use the Bypass instead of travelling down Coramba Road and in through town therefore reducing traffic on that section of road.”

A spokesperson for Transport for NSW (TfNSW) told News of The Area, “When the Coffs Harbour bypass is complete, it is expected to remove around 12,000 vehicles per day from the existing highway.

“The bypass signage will provide gateway treatments at the north and south which will indicate access to Coffs Harbour CBD from Englands Road interchange, or Korora Hill interchange.

“The project team will work with online map and direction services, including Google Maps, to also provide directions to Coffs Harbour CBD via the north or south.

“Prior to building the traffic model used for the bypass, Transport for NSW conducted a survey via phone calls and door-knocking to understand where people worked and travelled in Coffs Harbour.”

TfNSW said local residents in the Bray Street, Shephards Lane and Robin Street catchment of West Coffs are expected to access the bypass via Coramba Road interchange to travel south to the primary employment areas, including the hospital, industrial estate, university and TAFE.

“Travellers are expected to prefer the existing highway compared to Coramba Road to access the CBD, because of the reduced congestion and travel times.”

TfNSW also said the Coffs Harbour community should feel free to provide feedback on the design refinements until Monday 20 February 2023.

Comments can be sent via email or posted with details on the project website at www.pacifichighway.nsw.gov.au/coffsharbourbypass.

Meet-the-team sessions will be held from Wednesday 1 February to Thursday 9 February with details available on the website.

Static displays of the design are available now at the Coffs Harbour bypass display centre, 54 Moonee Street; Coffs Harbour City Council Office, corner of Coffs and Castle streets; Harry Bailey Memorial Library, corner of Duke and Coffs streets; and Toormina Library, Minorie Drive, Toormina.

Contact the Coffs Harbour Bypass team on 1800 550 621 or email community@CHBTeam.com.au.

The postal address is Coffs Harbour bypass project PO Box 565, Toormina, NSW 2452 and 54 Moonee Street, Coffs Harbour.

If you need help understanding this information, please contact the Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450 and ask them to call The CHB team on 1800 550 621.

By Andrea FERRARI