About the Coffs Harbour bypass

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Future traffic changes – last updated June 2026

The Coffs Harbour bypass – between the Englands Road Interchange and the Korora Interchange – is on track to open to traffic at the end of 2026.

To achieve this, the project team has made, and will continue to make, several traffic changes this year. This will allow us to keep motorists moving while we safely build other parts of the bypass.

Coffs Harbour bypass - temporary turning restrictions

The project team has already temporarily restricted turning arrangement at local road intersections with the Pacific Highway in several locations. To continue safely building the bypass, we will be implementing further temporary turning restrictions. Exact dates for these being implemented with be advertised on electronic sign boards along the respective roads.

Pacific Highway and Charlesworth Bay Road

For the safety of road users and the construction workforce, the bypass will temporarily close the right turns at the intersection of the highway and Charlesworth Bay Road. This will enable to team to build the shared path, install the traffic lights, move the bus stop and upgrade the road. Detours will be through the roundabout at the highway and Arthur Street or at the temporary u-turn bay north of the Korora Hill Interchange. When the u-turn bay closes (see section below), motorists will use the interchange. Access for pedestrians and cyclists will be maintained to the current level.

These restrictions will be in place until after the bypass opens to traffic. For more information, read the work notification.

There continues to be detours in place because of temporary no right turn restrictions along the highway at the intersections with West Korora Road, Bruxner Park Road, Old Coast Road, Campbell Close, Opal Boulevard, James Small Drive (north and south).

Coramba Road and Roselands Drive

To enable the team to build a shared path along Coramba Road, west of Roselands Drive, we will implement a temporary no right turn restriction at this intersection. Detours will be via the Coramba Road Interchange and the roundabout at the intersection of Shephards Lane. Access for pedestrians and cyclists will be maintained to the current level.

This will be in place for about four months.

Coffs Harbour bypass – south traffic switch

The intersection of the highway and Englands Road/Stadium Drive has been moved to a new temporary roundabout slightly west of the current location. This allows us to build traffic lights at the existing roundabout location. Access arrangements will be similar with the only change being left lanes into the roundabout from Englands Road and Stadium Drive will be left turn only.

Coffs Harbour Bypass – Korora traffic switch

James Small Drive (south) traffic has been moved slightly south of its current location. This allows us to continue building the eastern roundabout of the Korora Interchange. Access arrangements will remain the same.

The eastern roundabout of the Korora Interchange will open soon. This will include the left turn onto the southbound ramp onto the Pacific Highway to go to. Coffs Harbour. The temporary u-turn bay north of the interchange will close. For Bruxner Park Road motorists and cylists, access to Coffs Harbour and Sapphire will be via the Korora Hill Interchange.

At this time, the James Small Drive (north) intersection with the highway will be temporarily closed and a cul-de-sac will be built to facilitate a u-turn for local traffic. All access will be via the James Small Drive (south) and the Korora Interchange. This arrangement will be in place until mid-2027 while we build the permanent roundabout connecting James Small Drive (north) to Solitary Islands Way.

Coffs Harbour Bypass - Korora traffic switch

The new bus interchange in Korora and the section of Solitary Islands Way between the bus interchange and the Korora Hill Interchange will open later in 2026. The temporary bus bays on the eastern and western carriageways will be removed, and all bus movements will be via the new bus interchange, which will include public parking spaces.

Dates for these traffic changes will be advised on electronic message signs in the relevant areas. You can also sign up to receive weekly email updates.

Bridge building video series

The Coffs Harbour bypass is building 21 bridges which will provide better access for the community, including pedestrians and cyclists, and better outcomes for fauna connectivity and flood resilience in the region.

In this three-part video series, we explain how we design and build our bridges and shine a light on our longest bridge over the North Coast Railway line. For more information you can also read our fact sheet.

Bridge design with Project Manager, Brett

Bridge construction with Project Manager, Tom

Spotlight on the new bridge over the North Coast Railway line with Senior Project Engineer, James

Coffs Harbour bypass photobook May 2026

Lights, camera, switch– we’ve been making traffic changes on the Pacific Highway. Check them and our construction out in pictures with our May photobook. There are a variety of photographic angles showing us building the road, bridges and tunnels and what our people are up to in the latest edition.

Also, motorway tunnels operations and maintenance buildings are being installed, road foundation, paving and finishing work is continuing as we move closer to completing this 14-kilometre-long dual carriageway road.

View the Coffs Harbour bypass photobook May 2026 (PDF 7.93MB).

Construction Progress Showreel – March 2026

The Coffs Harbour bypass is making great progress with new highway lanes appearing and the finishing touches happening on most of our remaining bridges. Our three tunnels are being fitted out with important safety systems like fans and sprinklers and finishing work is ongoing with revegetation, street lighting and noise walls all happening progressively. Watch the video to check out the progress.

February project update

The Coffs Harbour bypass is building something bigger than a road. In our latest newsletter, you’ll read about how we are smashing Aboriginal participation targets and creating opportunities for Aboriginal-owned businesses. We’ve also finished our koala habitat restoration work with more than 3,000 dedicated food trees planted across three locations.

Bring yourself up to speed with what traffic changes to expect in 2026 and stay across the dates by signing up for email updates.

View the February 2026 project update (PDF 327.13KB).

Coffs Harbour bypass – Ethan Porter on site near Shephards lane.

Coffs Harbour bypass photobook January 2026

We’re gearing up for the year of paving as we work hard to open the bypass by the end of this year. Sneak a peek inside our asphalt batch plant working hard to make the 290,000 tonnes of asphalt required to pave the road.

Excavation has finished at all three tunnels and mechanical and electrical fit out has started. Noise walls are going up, and all 3,000 dedicated koala food and habitat trees have now been planted.

View the photobook here (PDF 8.35MB).

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.

Why is the project needed?

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.

How will the project help?

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.

Map of the Coffs Harbour bypass

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.