Monday marked a momentous milestone for the Macleay Valley - the Frederickton to Eungai Pacific Highway upgrade opened to traffic.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
At an official roadside ceremony attended by representatives from each level of Government, the blue ribbon was cut allowing commuters to travel on 26.5 kilometres of new road between Kempsey and Eungai.
The opening kicked-off with a ‘Welcome to Country’ delivered by local Aboriginal Elder Bob Smith. Then one after the other each visiting dignitary addressed the large crowd who were gathered to celebrate the completion of a long awaited stretch of pavement.
Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Darren Chester said he was pleased to be part of a Government who planned to spend $50 billion over the next six years on projects that will benefit future generations.
“Our challenge in Government is to think about the long-term, to think about the things that our kids and grandkids will thanks us for."
- Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Darren Chester
“There’s no doubt they’re going to thank us for the work we’ve done on the Pacific Highway.”
The newest section of Pacific Highway provides motorists with a four-lane divided road, safe and modern rest areas as well as improved road safety, better highway alignment, uninterrupted traffic flow and easy access on and off the highway for local traffic.
Beyond the benefits to travellers using the new section of highway, the opening also represents closure to a 27-year long road safety campaign that began on December 22 1989, in Clybucca. A date many locals will never forget, and one which signifies the tragic bus accident at Clybucca that killed 35 people and injured 41 other passengers.
The spectre of the shocking bus accident was brought to light in many speeches on the day including Member for Cowper Luke Hartsukyer who remarked that nothing was more important than the new highway’s safety implications.
“The upgrade will deliver significant safety benefits and travel time improvements for the thousands of motorists who travel along the Pacific Highway each year,” Mr Hartsukyer said.
The Frederickton to Eungai Pacific Highway upgrade forms part of 105 kilometres of upgrade currently under construction between Port Macquarie and Coffs Harbour. Roads and Maritime Services anticipate that around 48 kilometres of four-lane divided road is expected to open in 2016, with the remaining 57 kilometres to progressively open throughout 2017 (weather permitting).