Federal Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Minister Anthony Albanese and NSW Roads Minister Michael Daley today announced that the Kempsey Bypass was a step closer with alliance partners now being assessed for the construction project.

Ministers Albanese and Daley were at the site of the new bypass today to inspect geotechnical work and planning, which is already in full swing.

Mr Albanese said,” The Rudd Labor Government is investing $618 million into the 14.5-kilometre Kempsey Bypass. This is the largest single investment from our record $3.1 billion plan to upgrade the Pacific Highway.

“This project will support up to 450 jobs during construction and deliver a major boost to the Mid North Coast economy.

“Around one in five of the 10,000 vehicles that travel up and down this section of the Pacific Highway every day are trucks and heavy vehicles.

“The new Kempsey Bypass will improve safety for local residents by taking trucks and heavy vehicles off the local streets of Kempsey. And it will cut down on travel times for motorists and trucks carrying products and produce to interstate and export markets.

“The Rudd Labor Government is supporting jobs during the global recession by investing in the infrastructure we need to build our future economy,” Mr Albanese said.

Minister Daley said the Kempsey Bypass would be built through an alliance agreement as well as a design-and-construct contact to make sure it is delivered as quickly as possible.

“The alliance agreement will include the main road work including preparation of the site for the bridging contractor,” he said.

“The RTA is now carrying out a detailed assessment of the proposals for this work, with the winning alliance partners announced towards the end of the year.

“The main bridges over the Macleay River and the floodplain will then be built under a design and construct contract which will go to tender later this year.

“The Pacific Highway upgrade is one of the largest ever infrastructure projects this country has seen and we’re working with the Federal Government to complete it as quickly as possible,” Mr Daley said.

Construction work is expected to start in the first half of 2010 with the project scheduled for completion in 2014.