December project update
With tunnel excavation finished, the project team has been busy installing utilities and paving and are now starting to fit them out with mechanical and electrical equipment. We have also started laying asphalt on the mainline carriageway and we have received top marks in infrastructure sustainability for the design phase of the project.
View the December 2025 project update here (PDF 600.68KB).
November 2025 Photobook
A 600-tonne crane – the largest to be used on the bypass – has been busy installing 70 girders on the bridge over the North Coast Railway line, near Shephards Lane. In our latest photo book, check out this work and all the other progress on the project along some of our awesome workforce building this game-changing project.
View the November 2025 Photobook here (PDF 9.49MB).
Project welcomes high sustainability rating
The Coffs Harbour bypass project is celebrating another win after being awarded the highest possible Infrastructure Sustainability (IS) design rating. This 86.39 rating is independently verified and examines the project’s economic, social and environmental performance in the design phase. It's an excellent result and is the culmination of lots of hard work by Transport for NSW, the major construction contractors Ferrovial Gamuda Joint Venture and the design partners Arcadis.
Some key areas in achieving this rating include reducing carbon emissions, conserving water, reducing the project footprint, preserving local heritage and bringing innovation to the methods used across the alignment.
Sustainability is more than simply looking at ways to reduce our emissions, although that’s been a significant part of how we’ve received this rating by preserving local native vegetation, reducing the overall construction footprint, and replacing concrete noise walls with lower embodied carbon content material that has very good noise attenuation properties.
Coffs Harbour bypass welcomes sustainability rating
Construction Progress Showreel - September 2025
Our latest construction video takes you through the project alignment showing the work on the ground and the people making it happen. Highlights for this period include the breakthrough of all three tunnels, traffic now on all three interchanges, bridges progressing and the start of asphalting on the mainline carriageway in the south.
Watch the video to see how the project is taking shape to improve connectivity, road transport efficiency and safety for all motorists.
Coffs Harbour bypass September 2025 Flyover
Clearer waters ahead for Coffs Harbour bypass project
Major construction contractor, Ferrovial Gamuda Joint Venture, working with Transport for NSW, is breaking new ground on the Coffs Harbour bypass with an NSW -first approach to managing stormwater under the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) Environment Protection Licence.
In partnership with the NSW EPA, the project has introduced High Efficiency Sediment (HES) basins – real-time treatment systems that remove suspended solids including clay, silt, and organic debris before water is released to the environment.
The bypass crosses steep hills, deep gullies and areas of high rainfall, making water management during construction a critical challenge. Traditional basins treat water passively after rain, but HES basins operate continuously.
Scott Lawrence, Senior Manager Environment and Sustainability, Transport for NSW said the HES basins have been operating on the project since mid-2023 and they have already proven their value.
“Trials under the project’s licence showed a 78 percent reduction in total suspended solids during a 480mm rainfall event. These solids can carry heavy metals, reduce oxygen in streams, and smother aquatic habitats, so removing them is vital to protect waterways like the world heritage-listed Solitary Islands Marine Park.”
The HES system also delivers safer, more sustainable operations. Automated dosing reduces the need for manual handling during rain events, and retained water can be reused for construction, cutting demand on potable supplies.
Greg Nash, Project Director, Transport for NSW said the achievement reflected strong collaboration.
“This has been a whole-of-team effort, from our environmental specialists to the engineers and our construction contractor (Ferrovial Gamuda Joint Venture) who’ve done a tremendous job bringing it to life,” he said. “Everyone leaned in – and what we’ve delivered is not only safer for our people, but smarter for the project and the planet.”
The project is now sharing trial data with industry peers, setting a new benchmark for environmental protection in infrastructure construction delivery.
View our HES basins video to find out more
Coffs Harbour bypass High Efficiency Sediment Basins
Latest plans
Final Place Design and Landscape Plan now available
The Coffs Harbour bypass has released the final Place Design and Landscape Plan detailing the completed bypass's urban, architectural, and landscape design proposals.
Read them here:
Community consultation on the draft plan occurred in December 2023. A Consultation Summary Report has been prepared to summarise and respond to the feedback received. Thank you to everyone who submitted.
Manage your journey
We understand traffic changes are disruptive for road users and appreciate your patience during the construction of the Coffs Harbour bypass.
Conditions are continuing to change in the area, so we are asking motorists to please ACT:
- Be Aware: Keep up to date with the project and the latest traffic changes.
- Be Cautious: Follow signage, drive to the conditions, and follow the direction of traffic control.
- Allow more Time: Access arrangements will continue to change. Plan for minor delays and be patient on the road.
Please subscribe to our email list to keep informed about traffic changes and help you plan your journey.
Resources
You can access key resources for the Coffs Harbour bypass that provide detailed information on our construction activities and procedures. This includes construction updates, factsheets, environment reports, and other supporting documents.
Each of them has been produced to help inform how we are building the bypass with safety, environment, and community in mind.
Resource library
About the Coffs Harbour bypass
The 14km Coffs Harbour bypass will take vehicles west of the urban area, from Englands Road in the south to Sapphire in the north.
The project is part of the Pacific Highway upgrade, funded by the Australian and NSW governments.
For more information and documentation for the approvals of the Coffs Harbour bypass visit the NSW Planning Portal.
The existing highway through Coffs Harbour forms part of the Sydney - Brisbane freight corridor and carries between 30,000 and 35,000 vehicles per day (2016).
Road users need to navigate a 12km low speed arterial road with 12 sets of traffic signals, a major roundabout and 26 other intersections. This means the area experiences:
- A motorist, cyclist and pedestrian casualty rate more than three times higher than expected of a road of this class.
- Increased travel time and inefficient on-road freight operation.
- Loss of economic development opportunities.
- A decrease in the amenity of Coffs Harbour CBD.
By providing a bypass of Coffs Harbour consistent with the current standards of the Pacific Highway upgrade program, the project addresses declining transport efficiency, urban congestion and road safety issues.
It will support regional development and provide:
- Safer, more consistent and reliable travel.
- Reduced travel times with improved freight transport efficiency to better. access towns and villages on the north coast.
- Improved amenity for local communities.
- A more reliable route with improved flood tolerance.
View a larger version (PDF 3.98MB) of the map.
A static map of the Coffs Harbour Bypass. The Bypass starts at the bottom left of the map in Boambee, and continues north through North Boambee Valley and Red Hill. It then heads north-east through Korora, Korora Basin, then concludes at Sapphire Beach at the top right of the map. You can view further information such as articles/resources on project updates, work notifications, Environment and community information on the resources page.
Gallery
Coffs Harbour bypass project contact
For further information about this project, contact or visit us at:
Email: community@CHBteam.com.au
Phone: 1800 550 621
Mail: P.O. Box 565, Toormina, NSW 2452