The speed limits on Coldstream, Tyndale-Tucabia and Wooli roads have been temporarily reduced from 100km/h to 80 km/h to help manage safety while work on the $4.36 billion Woolgoolga to Ballina Pacific Highway upgrade is carried out. General manager Pacific Highway Bob Higgins said the new speed limit is in place from about 400 metres north of Whites Bridge on Wooli Road to the southern side of Tucabia township and from the north of Tucabia on Coldstream Road (Tyndale Tucabia Road) to the Pacific Highway intersection. “The safety of the community and workers during the upgrade is of the highest priority. Until work is completed the project team is actively working to ensure local roads are as safe as possible,” Mr Higgins said. “The Woolgoolga to Ballina Pacific Highway upgrade project team recognises extra traffic on local roads is an inconvenience and to minimise this impact, a 30-kilometre haul road is being built which will remove many heavy vehicles from the local road network when completed.” Clarence Valley Council Works and Civil director Troy Anderson said the road was quite narrow in places and reducing the speed limit is a short-term measure ensuring heavy and light vehicles can safely use the road together. “Travelling at 80km/h instead of 100km/h is only expected to increase journey times by about three minutes for the length of the 24-kilometre route,” Mr Anderson said. “The small increase in journey time now to support the upgrade is well worth the improved safety and efficiency benefits of the finished highway.” Mr Higgins said the project team would also install new centre line marking in various locations on Coldstream and Wooli roads to further improve safety for motorists through clearer separation of traffic travelling in both directions.