Transport for NSW Proposed safety improvements along Big River Way between Glenugie and Tyndale Have your say

Approaching exit to Big River Way from the new Pacific

As part of the NSW Government’s Saving Lives on Country Roads program we are proposing a number of safety improvements on the old Pacific Highway, now known as Big River Way, between Glenugie and Tyndale.

June 2020 The proposal A Eight Mile Lane: improve the existing intersection The NSW Government is investing up to Improve the existing intersection by installing a widened centreline/median on the highway to increaseCHR the separation between on-coming vehicles. Lighting will be installed to improve $20 million over the next three years visibility and safety. The existing left turn lane into Eight Mile Lane will also be widened to to deliver a number of road safety improve safety by separating traffic from through traffic on the highway. improvements on Big River Way between Glenugie and Tyndale. This significant Travel lane Northbound investment will include rebuilding sections of the road surface which have been damaged, to provide a smoother travel journey. We have developed a Safer Asset Strategy Southbound that sets out the priorities for safety improvements and upgrades for this road B Six Mile Lane: provide a new intersection treatment over the next few years. Provide a new intersection to improve safety for north and southbound traffic. The road will be widened to provide a designated turning lane for northbound traffic turning right into Six Mile This section of highway, between Glenugie Lane. A designated turning lane will also be provided for southbound traffic for safe turning and Tyndale, will remain a State road and movementsCHR into the new access track. receive regular maintenance as part of Transport for NSW’s routine maintenance Turning bay into access track schedule. Travel lane Northbound Improving the local road network Southbound The Woolgoolga to Ballina Pacific Highway upgrade has resulted in changes to the local road network in the Clarence Valley region. C Four Mile Lane: improve the existing intersection The old highway between Glenugie and Improve the existing intersection by using part of the old northbound overtaking lane. This will SEAGULLallow entering traffic to accelerate before merging with northbound traffic. While this Tyndale has carried a significant volume of treatment is similar to the existing, it will improve safety as the northbound acceleration lane traffic over the years. will no longer be combined into a fast lane of an overtaking lane. The Safer Assets Strategy has been Travel lane developed to reduce ongoing maintenance Northbound and identify the most appropriate treatments to improve a number of intersections and safety along the road. The proposal is aimed to improve the road and provide a safer, Southbound efficient and reliable journey to road users. Proposed improvements D Centenary Drive (south): provide a new intersection treatment We propose to: Provide a new intersection treatment to improve safety for traffic turning into and out of • Install widened centre line on the highway CentenarySEAGULL Drive, particularly in the northbound direction. Including a new acceleration lane for vehicles turning right onto the highway to provide greater separation from through traffic to increase the separation between on- on the highway. coming vehicles • Install safety barrier to reduce the risk of Travel lane Northbound vehicles leaving the highway and hitting an object or oncoming vehicle • Improve intersections at Eight Mile, Six Mile and Four Mile lanes, Centenary Southbound Drive (south), Heber Street in South Grafton, Swan and McLachlans lanes and Coldstream Road E Heber Street: improve intersection for southbound traffic Improve safety at this intersection by providing improved conditions for southbound traffic. • Review bus drop off/pick up areas and This will involve sealing the gravel shoulder either side of Heber Street, which will improve improve where possible the road surface and reduce the potential for loss of vehicle control when passing stationary vehicles. • Provide safer turning facilities facilities at improve intersection for northbound traffic Six Mile Lane F Swan Lane and McLachlans Lane: Upgrade the existing T-intersection to include a widened sealed shoulder for northbound • Install roadside safety barrier for improved traffic. This will improve the road surface and reduce the potential for loss of vehicle control protection of pedestrians at Ulmarra when passing stationary vehicles. • Review the Ulmarra school zone for safety measures and opportunities. G Coldstream Road, Tyndale: reinstate intersection Remove the acceleration lane for northbound traffic (currently used for construction traffic) This project will be delivered in stages, to and reinstate the central median. This will connect to a wide centreline with median barrier to minimise disruption to traffic during major improveCHR safety for motorists through the Tyndale village. work. Travel lane Northbound

Southbound

Note: Intersection treatment drawings above are indicative only. transport.nsw.gov.au Glenugie to South Grafton

Gwydir Highway Grafton Clarence River 0 1 2 3 To Ballina Kilometres KEY ay d Big River W oa R South Road improvementsth including Rwideush fcentrelineor treatment Grafton Intersection improvements E Intersection improvements e v Centreline treatment Wide centreline ri Heber Street treatment D ry a d n a te o n R e e C al id Southbound overtaking lane removed m Ar and wide centreline installed Intersection improvements La ne D ile M r u o F pool y il Existing northbound overtaking lane L d a changed to southbound overtaking lane ld o O R

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Existing southbound overtaking lane Wide centreline treatment changed to northbound overtaking lane Reilleys Lane Roadside

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Glenugie To Cos Harbour and Grafton to Tyndale South Grafton to Tyndale

Tyndale To Ballina Remove overtaking lane and replace with wide centre line and shoulders Median safety barrier 0 1 2 3 4 5 Kilometres Intersection improvements G KEY Widening of bridge deck and improved safety barrier Road improvements including wide centreline treatment Intersection improvements Centreline treatment Brushgrove T u c Median safety a barrier C bia y old -Ty a st n re d W a d m a a r R le o e iv R v e o R r i r a e R d e v c i g i n R Existing southbound e B

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C c ifi c M Extend existing median o t o safety barrier to the north r w a d a y o R am Tucabia Coldstre Additional safety barrier (see inset) Ulmarra De ep Cre ek Ulmarra Road

Nortons Hospital Lane Lane River Street Coldstream Street Intersection improvements F Mclachlans Lane New safety barrier to provide e k protection for re pedestriansAvenue Road C King Street S a n w y a W r e George Street Widening of bridge deck iv R and improved safety barrier Swan Big Lane Intersection improvements F Southbound overtaking S lane removed and um replace with wide m W e centreline a r F y l a Grafton C o

n e u d n te r n M a i ry le e L n D a a L r n i e e v Six l e i M Mile Lane t h ver W g Big Ri ay i y E ighwa South Existing median safety dir H To Cos Gwy Grafton barrier extended north to Jacaranda Motel Harbour and Sydney Glenugie

Safety upgrade of Big River Way between Glenugie and Tyndale - Have your say The old Pacific Highway between Glenugie and Tyndale - now known as Big 40% reduction River Way - will continue to be a key link 75% reduction in the State road network that connects communities across the region. in daily vehicle movements

Example of the median safety barrier proposed at various Installing safety barrier to improve pedestrian safety in Ulmarra locations on Big River Way

Benefits the direction you need travel. We acknowledge this may be an inconvenience, however, we need to ensure we are • Improvements to road safety to reduce crashes and improving safety for all road users. resulting fatalities and injuries In this environment, left-in and left-out turning movements • Intersection improvements to deliver safer turning are preferred for any access onto the highway, such as movements driveways, as they separate potential conflict points. • Widened road shoulders and improved road width We will work with residents and businesses within the • Improved pedestrian safety through Ulmarra. project areas to minimise any potential impacts, such as property access, during and after the improvements are carried out. Improve safety and reduce the severity Eight Mile Lane access for heavy of crashes vehicles Access to Grafton from the new motorway is provided via Glenugie or Tyndale interchanges. How will the proposal impact me? Southbound motorists can travel via the Tyndale With the recent opening of the Glenugie to Tyndale section interchange north of Grafton or the Glenugie interchange of the Pacific Highway upgrade, it is expected that the on the new highway to the south. It is likely that motorists number of heavy vehicles travelling Big River Way between will choose to access Grafton via the Tyndale interchange Tyndale to South Grafton and Glenugie will reduce by about as this is the quickest and shortest route. While some 75 per cent. Big River Way will remain the main connection southbound motorists may choose to access via the Eight to Grafton, the New England region, and the Summerland Mile Lane interchange, this would add 12 minutes additional Way. travel time, and 14 kilometres extra length to the journey. The proposed safety improvements will provide a safer Vehicles greater than 19 metres are restricted from using road network for all road users. the Glenugie (north) interchange as Eight Mile Lane is not To reduce the potential for head on collisions, we are currently a designated B-double route. B-doubles will need looking at a number of locations to install median safety to use the Glenugie (south), or Tyndale interchanges when barriers. This may result in a change to how you access travelling to and from Grafton. your property and could result in an increase to your We have considered this issue and held discussions with journey time. If your access is impacted, you may have to the local transport industry and Council on the matter. It access or exit Big River Way at a different intersection or has been determined that the use of Eight Mile Lane will be use another intersection to safely turn around to head in monitored following the opening of the upgrade, to assist in providing a greater understanding of how this section of road will be used. As a regular user of this road, we While work is being carried out on Big River Way over the want your input to help us refine our next three years, we will continue to monitor this section of road and consider any opportunities to improve road safety proposed improvements in this area. Have Next steps Have your say by Friday, your Once feedback is considered and proposed 10 July 2020 works are finalised, TfNSW propose to start say early work from late July 2020, weather We are seeking your feedback on the permitting. proposed improvements to Big River Way We will provide regular updates to the between Glenugie and Tyndale. community on the progress and delivery of this important program of works. You can you provide feedback via: Where appropriate, we will engage with the Post: Big River Way Glenugie to Tyndale - community during the development of the proposed safety improvements specific projects; however, some activities will be determined by engineering needs PO Box 576 and corridor constraints. Grafton In those instances, we will maintain regular communication with our key stakeholders NSW 2460 and, where possible, address any concerns Email: [email protected] raised as part of our engagement process. For more information about the project visit: https://www.nswroads.work/bigriverway

Big River Way just south of Cowper looking south

Intersection improvements at a number of locations

New safety barrier to improve pedestrian safety in Ulmarra

This document contains important information about Transport projects in your area. If you require the services of an interpreter, please contact the Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450 and ask them to call Transport Projects on 1800 549 159. The interpreter will then assist you with translation.

transport.nsw.gov.au