Expect the final 57 kilometres of the 105-kilometre upgrade between Port Macquarie and Coffs Harbour to open in 2017, weather-permitting.

That includes the two projects between Port Macquarie and Kempsey and the 20-kilometre Warrell Creek to Nambucca Heads upgrade. The federal and state governments are jointly funding the work.

North Coast director for the NRMA Wendy Machin said the Pacific Highway was very important to the state.

“It’s really accelerated over the past few years,” she said.

Ms Machin said safety would be the most important benefit of the upgrade.

A Roads and Maritime Services spokesperson said almost 460 kilometres of the Pacific Highway between Hexham and the Queensland border were four-lane divided road. 

About 153 kilometres are being built and the remaining sections are being prepared for major work.

The $820 million Oxley Highway to Kundabung project takes in 23 new bridges.

There are major river crossings over the Hastings and Wilson rivers and interchanges at Sancrox Road, Blackmans Point Road and Haydons Wharf Road. 

Work is about 70 per cent complete with the stretch expected to open to traffic in late 2017. Work on 574 metre-long bridge over the Hastings River is nearing completion. Structural work on the the 524 metre-long Wilson River bridge is finished.

The 14 kilometre Kundabung to Kempsey section is about 70 per cent complete and expected to open to traffic in the second half of 2017.

Traffic has been moved onto the final stage of the new southbound lanes.

Eight of the nine bridges along the 14 kilometre stretch are complete.

The northbound bridge over Smiths Creek still being built.

Key building activities include connection of Rodeo Drive and Ravenswood Road to be completed and open as a new service road and the continuation of paving for the new northbound lanes in the Maria River State Forest.

The Warrell Creek to Nambucca Heads stretch, due to open in late 2017, includes 15 bridges, new interchanges and access ramps.

The 155 kilometre Woolgoolga to Ballina project is the last section to be upgraded.