The newly completed northern section of the Ballina Bypass on the Pacific Highway will tomorrow – Tuesday, 1 March 2011 – open to traffic for the first time.

Federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister Anthony Albanese said this opening is occurring many months earlier than original scheduled thanks to the Federal Labor Government’s decision to bring forward $100 million in our very first budget.

“The opening of the 5.9 kilometres northern section between Cumbalum and Ross Lane marks a major milestone in the delivery of the Bypass,” said Mr Albanese.

“Once fully completed in 2012, this new piece of road infrastructure will improve safety, cut travel times by up to 12 minutes and ease congestion on the streets of Ballina.”

“Importantly, the construction of the Bypass is just one of many projects being funded as part of the $3.6 billion capital works program being rolling out up and down the Pacific Highway.

“Indeed compared to the former Howard Government we’re investing more than twice as much in the half the time.”

The Ballina Bypass is a jointly funded project, with the Gillard Labor Government contributing $526 million and the Keneally Labor Government a further $114 million.

NSW Roads Minister David Borger said work began on the wider Ballina bypass in 2008, and is on schedule for the southern section to be open to traffic next year.

“This is good news not only for motorists using the Pacific Highway, but for the people of Ballina – as it will improve both local road safety and traffic flow,” Mr Borger said.

The fully built Ballina bypass will feature 12 kilometres of four-lane divided road – six lanes between the Bruxner Highway and Teven Road – as well as new interchanges at Teven Road and Ross Lane, and bridges over Emigrant and Sandy Flat creeks.

The southern section will also include a new Cumbalum interchange with roundabouts on both sides of the Cumbalum bridges.