$62m upgrade for horror highway

A black history: A fatal truck accident on the Pacific Highway at Tabbimoble.

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A $62 MILLION upgrade of the horror stretch of the Pacific Highway between Mororo Road and Tabbimoble Flat is scheduled to commence early next year.

Tenders will be called following approval from the NSW Department of Planning to construct double-lane dual-carriageway on the 6.4-kilometre section of highway. The work is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2012.

Clarence MP Steve Cansdell said he welcomed the upgrade to the highway, which would result in a safer road for Clarence Valley motorists.

“It's a black spot through there. I have ridden my push bike through that section of highway and I stopped at every cross and there were quite a few of them,” he said.

Mr Cansdell said this work would help reduce the number of deaths on this dangerous stretch of road.

“If you look at the statistics between Coffs Harbour and Ballina this section of highway around the beekeepers' area is one of the worst,” he said.

“The upgrade will be jointly funded by the state and federal governments.”

Minister for Roads David Borger said the work on the upgrade would provide safer driving conditions and improved traffic flow for motorists.

“Work on the upgrade will support around 90 direct jobs and 270 indirect jobs in the first year of work, with job numbers increasing during the building phase,” he said.

A submissions report is available at the RTA's Pacific Highway office in Prince Street, Grafton, and the New Italy Museum.

Further information can be found at the RTA’S website at www.rta.nsw.gov.au/pacific.