Total or partial acquisition of properties affected by the bypass routes have begun, with 15 land owners already agreeing to terms with the RTA.

Twenty properties are under negotiation while a further 81 total or partial acquisitions will be required before work commences on the $618 million project.

Construction of the 14.5km bypass is expected to begin early next year and should be completed by mid-2014.

The approved route will see the bypass leave the current highway at Stumpy Creek, about 1km south of the Kempsey Squash and Recreation Centre.

A bridge will be built over the bypass for traffic travelling on Crescent Head Rd, while the route itself will continue on across the Pola Creek Channel before hitting the Macleay River floodplains somewhere near the Inches Rd-Old Station Rd intersection.

About 2.2km of bridge works will be built through the floodplains at Frogmore before the road crosses the Macleay and rejoins the existing highway just to the north of Frederickton.

The bypass project will be a combination of a design and construct contract and an alliance agreement.

The design and construct component of the contract is for the construction of the main bridge over the Macleay River floodplain.

The alliance agreement includes the main road work and all other remaining activities, including the preparation of the site for the bridge contractor.

It is expected the alliance contract will be awarded later this year while tenders will be invited for the bridge contract in 2010.