THREE interchanges on the plans for the Coffs Harbour bypass have been refined after plans went out to the community for feedback.

“The community feedback was pretty clear,” NSW Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Sam Farraway told media in Coffs Harbour on Monday 9 January.

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“They wanted to see simplified interchanges and they wanted to see that streamlined into the bypass project.”

The main changes to the design include refinements to the Englands Road, Coramba Road and Korora Hill interchanges.

While there have been design updates, the overall design, including tunnels, has not changed.

The detailed design refinements have been made following extensive consultation including on the environmental impact statement and refined design in 2019, during the concept design display in September 2018 and ongoing discussions with key stakeholders since planning approval in December 2020.

There was significant collaboration between Transport for NSW and the Ferrovial Gamuda Joint Venture before these changes were finalised.

The community is now being asked to provide comments on the project’s refined design.

Feedback on the detailed design can be made until Monday, 20 February and further details can be found at www.pacifichighway.nsw.gov.au/coffsharbourbypass.

Static displays of the design will be available from 11 January 2023 at: 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.

Federal Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King said, “These design changes are minor but will improve traffic flow and be better for motorists as well as nearby residents during construction and operation.

“Importantly, this milestone also paves the way for major construction to begin in March – which will support local jobs and stimulate the state and national economies.”

State Member for Coffs Harbour Gurmesh Singh said, “One of the key themes we heard during the community consultation periods was that the community wanted simplified interchanges and the detailed design incorporates that feedback.

“The Coffs Harbour Bypass is the most significant infrastructure project in our community’s history and will transform our town by removing 12,000 vehicles from the CBD, making life easier for locals to get to work or drop the kids off at school.

“Nobody in Coffs likes being stuck at traffic lights, especially during the holiday period, and this project removes twelve of them, saving twelve minutes off your trip and eases congestion through town.”

Sam Farraway said the Coffs Bypass will be fully open to traffic in 2026.

“We’re focusing on cracking on with construction from March 2023.”

By Andrea FERRARI