More than $1 billion worth of major civil work packages will open this month as part of the Australian and NSW Government funded $4.36 billion Woolgoolga to Ballina Pacific Highway upgrade. Work to be carried out will involve clearing, utility diversions, fencing and property adjustments, bulk earthwork and drainage, intersection upgrades and road surfacing. “This will mean the entire 13.8 million cubic metres of the earthwork required for the 155 kilometre upgrade will be awarded or released for tender by the end of the year,” Federal Member for Page, Kevin Hogan said. Mr Hogan said 54 kilometres of the project is being built, with more than 90 kilometres expected to be in major work by September. “The work will include fencing, bridge foundation treatments, building removal, clearing, intersection upgrades, earthwork and building temporary crossings to ensure the area is ready for major work in the first quarter of next year,” Mr Hogan said. “Clearing vegetation, moving electricity utilities, installing drains and processing, stockpiling and disposing of cleared materials will also take place. “When you consider the 23 kilometres of soft soil work being carried out between Glenugie and Ballina and the 26 kilometres of major work between Woolgoolga and Glenugie it clearly shows we are getting on with the job of upgrading this last section of the Pacific Highway.” “This month, Acciona Ferrovial Harwood Joint Venture was officially awarded the contract to design and build the new bridge over the Clarence River at Harwood. The bridge is the longest of the more than 100 bridges to be built as part of the upgrade.” Local State Member for Clarence and Parliamentary Secretary for the North Coast, Chris Gulaptis said of the available 172 contracts to be tendered as part of the upgrade, 70 have been awarded in the past 12 months. “There are currently 15 packages either out to tender or being evaluated including a shortlisting of a registration of interest for eight bridge building packages each involving the delivery of between 10 and 25 bridges with a total value of between $200 to $250 million. “Also out to tender is the first bridge construction package at Tabbimobile, building of site compounds and temporary and permanent diversion lanes next to Harwood Bridge. “A tender will be issued for the supply of bridge precast elements to those suppliers already shortlisted through an earlier Registration of Interest.” Mr Gulaptis said seven packages would be issued to the market in July including: • Building of the Woodburn Broadwater service road • Building removal • Maintenance of ancillary sites along the route • At home noise treatments and minor environmental packages • Supply packages for fuel, concrete and quarry materials. “Work on all Pacific Highway upgrades is currently employing about 3100 people, with about 900 of those on site for the Woolgoolga to Ballina section of the upgrade. The 155 kilometre final section is estimated to generate about 2500 direct and 7500 indirect jobs when construction is at its peak.” For more information visit http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/w2b