The project

The development cycle of a large project can take more than seven years. During this period the RTA has to:

• Set strategic project limits (where it is, how long, etc).
• Identify all of the options and all of the constraints.
• Choose a preferred option.
• Carry out a detailed study and environmental assessment of the preferred option.
• Recommend a preferred solution, with supporting detail.
• Carry out community consultation throughout the process.
• Revise the proposal in light of community comment.
• Take the proposal to appropriate Government agencies for concurrence.
• Seek project approval from the NSW Minister for Planning.

The planning process is designed to ensure that all viewpoints are heard and considered, that all findings are documented and those important findings are acted upon.

In the case of the Karuah to Bulahdelah upgrade, planning approval was granted in February 2002. The project is being constructed in two stages. The first stage (section 1) involved the construction of 11 km of dual carriageway from the northern end of Karuah bypass to 2 km north of Myall Way. This section was opened to traffic in December 2006.

Stage two (sections 2 and 3) involves the construction of 23 km of dual carriageway from approximately 2 km north of Myall Way to approximately 1 km south of Booral Road. In September 2006 Abigroup Contractors Pty Ltd was awarded a contract by the RTA to carry out detailed design, construction and maintenance for 10 years after completion for the Karuah to Bulahdelah upgrade sections 2 and 3.

The project involves a duplication of the highway essentially along its existing alignment. Please refer to the project locality map below for further details.

Here detailed maps are available on the Information documents section (under the heading Information centre displays) of this website.

The Karuah to Bulahdelah sections 2 and 3 upgrade will consist of the following:

• 23 km of separated dual carriageway generally following the existing highway
• Seven (7) new twin bridges at:
• Nerong Waterholes (bridge and fauna crossing).
• Split Yard Creek.
• Jacks Creek (bridge and fauna crossing).
• Grey Gum Gully (bridge and fauna crossing).
• Myall Lakes National Park No 1 (fauna crossing).
• Myall Lakes National park No 2 (bridge and fauna crossing).
• Houstons Flat (bridge and fauna crossing).

Bridges combined deck length - 115 m.

• Rest areas (existing rest areas will be retained until completion of construction)
• northbound traffic at Nerong Waterholes.
• southbound traffic at Browns Flat.
• Connection to existing local roads including:
• Viney Creek Road west.
• Viney Creek Road east.
• Nerong Forest Road.
• Nugra Road.
• Whimbrel Drive.
• Myall River Road.
• Protection and management of fauna movement across the highway will include eight (8) fauna crossings (all underpasses at bridges and culverts) and approximately 8.7 km of fauna exclusion fencing.
• Truck lay-bys, emergency telephone bays and cross-carriageway accesses.
• Bus turning circles at Whimbrel Drive Nerong and Myall River Road with option for Viney Creek Road being investigated.
• Urban design and landscaping along the length of the new highway.
• 2.5 m wide shoulder for pedestrian and cyclist access along the length of the new highway.
• Traffic noise attenuation measures.