The full duplication of the Pacific Highway continues apace, with work beginning today on the construction of a new northbound carriageway between Herons Creek and Stills Road.

Federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister Anthony Albanese said once this upgrade is completed, motorists will for the first time be able to drive all the way from Bulahdelah to Port Macquarie on a modern, fully duplicated highway.

“This upgrade is just one part of the massive $3.6 billion capital works program currently rolling out up and down the Pacific Highway, with more than 1,300 workers now onsite building close to 70 kilometres of new road,” said Mr Albanese.

“Indeed the duplication of this road is the largest nation building road project currently underway anywhere in the country and compared to our predecessors we’re investing more than twice as much in the half the time.

“Or to put it another way, if the former Howard Government had made a commitment equal to ours then the Pacific Highway would today be almost fully duplicated.”

The $60 million upgrade of the Pacific Highway between Herons Creek and Stills Road is a fully federally funded project.

NSW Roads Minister David Borger said as well as upgrading over 3.5 kilometres of the Pacific Highway, the project will also deliver a new interchange at the Bago Road intersection, a new bridge over Cutty Creek and improve safety around Herons Creek Public School.

“Once completed in late 2012, this new section of highway will provide faster, smoother driving conditions for the up to 12,000 motorists that will use it every day,” said Mr Borger.

“Importantly, it will also improve safety along a section of road which between 2006 and 2010 witnessed 34 crashes resulting in three fatalities and serious injury to a further 36 people.”