Two regional road announcements will support safer journeys, better freight movement and long-term planning across key NSW corridors, with new funding confirmed for the North Coast and major safety works now complete in the Snowy Mountains.
The Australian and NSW governments have committed $30 million to progress planning for future upgrades along the M1 Pacific Motorway corridor between Tweed Heads and Byron Bay – one of the state’s most important regional transport links.
The package includes $15 million from the Australian Government, matched by $15 million from the NSW Government, and will fund modelling, concept designs and economic analysis for future upgrades to key intersections along the corridor.
Planning will focus on key pressure points including Kennedy Drive and Minjungbal Drive at Tweed Heads, Darlington Drive at Banora Point, Tweed Coast Road at Chinderah and Ewingsdale Road, a key gateway to Byron Bay. Future investigations will also consider upgrades to the Kirkwood Road and Gold Coast Highway interchanges.
The funding will also support investigations into public transport and bus priority infrastructure upgrades across the North Coast, as well as improvements to support more efficient freight movements between NSW and Queensland.
The M1 Pacific Motorway is a nationally significant corridor connecting Sydney and Brisbane. It supports freight, tourism and cross-border travel between NSW and Queensland, with continued population growth across Northern NSW increasing pressure on the road network. Nearly 70,000 motorists travel through the M1 at Tweed Heads each day.
Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King said the funding would support the planning and design work needed to future-proof the corridor.
“We know here on the North Coast, some interchanges between Tweed and Byron Bay can backup quickly,” Minister King said.
“That’s why our $15 million investment, now matched by the NSW Government, will undertake essential modelling, planning and design work that is needed to future-proof this booming regional highway.”
NSW Minister for Roads Jenny Aitchison said: “The M1 Pacific Motorway is one of Australia’s most important transport corridors, connecting communities, supporting freight and driving economic activity between NSW and Queensland.
“The North Coast is on the precipice of enormous growth – a booming population and major infrastructure on the way.”
The North Coast planning package comes as separate safety works are completed on the Snowy Mountains Highway near Adelong, improving a steep and winding section of road between Black Creek Road and Back Sandy Gully Road.
The $9 million project is part of $36 million in road safety improvements for the Snowy Mountains Highway, jointly funded by the Australian and NSW governments under the Road Safety Program.
The project started in September last year and involved widening a 2.1-kilometre section of the Snowy Mountains Highway to improve safety and sight distance through the bend.
The upgrades include a wider road that allows drivers to safely turn at the intersection, improved sight distance for motorists, two kilometres of safety barriers and audio tactile line markings, also known as rumble strips, to increase driver awareness and reduce run-off-road crashes.
With the safety upgrades now complete, the nearby Darlow rest area has reopened.
Federal Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories Kristy McBain said: “Completing these upgrades on the Snowy Mountains Highway is about more than just improving a stretch of road, it’s about helping people get home safely to their families.
“We know how devastating road trauma can be for communities, and that’s why investments like this matter. By improving sight lines, widening lanes and installing safety barriers, we’re taking practical steps to reduce risk and protect the lives of everyone who travels this road, whether they’re locals, freight drivers or visitors to the region.”
Minister Aitchison said the upgrades would make the highway safer for local communities, visitors and freight operators.
“Better visibility, wider roads, safety barriers and rumble strips all play an important role in preventing crashes and reducing the severity of those that do occur.”
For regional NSW, safe and reliable road infrastructure is fundamental to economic development.
Road corridors connect workers to jobs, freight to markets, visitors to local economies and communities to essential services. As regional populations grow and freight demand increases, investment in both long-term planning and targeted safety improvements will remain critical to supporting productive, connected and resilient regions.
For more: Road Safety Program 2024/25-2026/27 | Transport for NSW
