SUCCESSFUL tenderers have been announced for the first two major building contracts on the Woolgoolga to Ballina upgrade on the Pacific Highway in New South Wales, allowing the work to get underway within the next six months.

A 26 kilometre section of the Pacific Highway between Arrawarra and Glenugie will be upgraded as part of the 155km stretch between Woolgoolga and Ballina.

OHL and York Joint Venture will partner to deliver the 14km section of upgrade between Woolgoolga and Halfway Creek, while Civil Mining and Construction will deliver the 12km section between Halfway Creek and Glenugie.

Awarding these latest contracts means more than 80% of the total program is either completed, under contract or currently under construction.

There had been a high level of interest in delivering the first stage of the Woolgoolga to Ballina upgrade, with six organisations tendering for the contract.

With around 60% of the highway now upgraded to a four lane divided road and work underway on all remaining sections between Port Macquarie and Coffs Harbour, the focus is now shifting to delivering the last section in the duplication of the Pacific Highway to the Queensland border by the end of the decade.

New South Wales Minister for Roads and Freight Duncan Gay said the Woolgoolga to Halfway Creek upgrade would include a 300 metre-long twin bridge above the Corindi floodplain, as well as bridges over the highway at Sherwood Creek Road and Kangaroo Trail Road for local road access.

“The Halfway Creek to Glenugie section will include twin bridges above Halfway Creek and Wells Crossing Creek, as well as a wide median to help animals crossing at Newfoundland State Forest,” he said.

The Halfway Creek to Glenugie upgrade will join the existing Glenugie upgrade that was completed in February 2012.