The $820 million project will dramatically improve road safety for Port Macquarie residents, particularly around the notorious Telegraph Point area, where tragically so many lives have been lost. In fact, since the beginning of the multi-billion dollar Pacific Highway project the number of fatalities on the road has halved.

The opening also marked the 78 per cent completion mark for the 657 kilometre upgrade project, which has so far saved drivers two hours of travel between Hexham and the Queensland border. The new stretch of road will shave more travel time off trips to the Mid-North Coast. 

The project is also delivering economic outcomes right across the Mid North Coast. Since the beginning of the project, construction jobs have underpinned economic growth in our region. And now the project is completed, our local businesses stand to benefit as well.

Local small- and medium-sized businesses, including local farmers and freight operators, stand to benefit from slashed travel times by helping them stay competitive by decreasing the time it takes to transport their goods. This means more long-term jobs for locals into the future.

An additional final five kilometres of road between the Oxley Highway and Kundabung will open in early 2018, which will mean a permanent 110km/hr speed limit for motorists.

Weather permitting, the Macksville bypass will also be open before Christmas, ensuring holiday traffic flows smoothly on the Pacific Highway right across the Mid-North Coast. 

For more information on the Pacific Highway upgrade visit rms.nsw.gov.au/projects/pacific-highway/index.html