St Helena Tunnel
_taken_on_14-02-23.jpg) | |
| Northern Portal of St Helena Tunnel (Under construction as at 23 Feb 2014) | |
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Location | Ewingsdale, New South Wales, Australia |
| Status | Under Construction |
| Route | Pacific Highway |
| Operation | |
| Work begun | September 2012 |
| Opened | Second half of 2015 (weather permitting) |
| Owner | Roads & Maritime Services |
| Traffic | Automotive |
| Character | Motorway |
| Technical | |
| Construction | Lend Lease |
| Length | 430 metres (1,410 ft) |
| Number of lanes | Built for 2 x 3 opening as 3 x 2 |
| Operating speed | 110 km/h[1] |
| Tunnel clearance | 5.5 m |
| Width | 13.3 m |
| Grade | 2.2% |
The St Helena Tunnel is a twin-tube road tunnel under St Helena Hill located near the suburb of Ewingsdale, near Byron Bay, New South Wales, Australia. The tunnel is part of the Tintenbar to Ewingsdale project on the Pacific Highway and is located on a new alignment.
The tunnel is being built to avoid the steep grades of St Helena Hill and concomitant heavy truck noise and pollution. It is be approximately 430 m (1,410 ft) long and 45 m below the 131 metre high ridge line. The tunnel will comprise two road tunnels, one southbound and one northbound, each with two traffic lanes.[2]
The cost of the project is $862 million and is jointly funded by the state and Federal governments. It is expected to be completed in the second half of 2015 (weather permitting).[3]
Milestones
- January 2010 - Planning approval and construction funding for the Tintenbar to Ewingsdale project including the St Helena Tunnel.
- May 2010 - The RMS called registrations of interest for the construction of the upgrade
- December 2010, three companies were invited to submit detailed tenders
- August 2011, the contract was awarded to Lend Lease (previously Baulderstone).[1][4]
- 24 January 2014 - Excavator breaks through on the northbound tunnel[5]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Pacific Highway Tintenbar to Ewingsdale Upgrade". RTA. Retrieved 3 February 2011.
- ↑ "Environmental Assessment Submissions Report" (PDF). RTA. May 2009. Retrieved 3 February 2011.
- ↑ "Planning approval given for Tintenbar-Ewingsdale Pacific Highway upgrade". farnorthcoaster.com.au. 29 January 2010. Retrieved 3 February 2011.
- ↑ "Another stage of Pacific Hwy duplication gets all clear". Australasian Transport News. 9 August 2011. Retrieved 9 August 2011.
- ↑ Rodney Stevens (2014-01-24). "Tunnel breakthrough a major milestone for highway upgrade". Northern Star. Northern Star Ltd. Retrieved 2014-02-03.
External links
Coordinates: 28°39′10″S 153°32′54″E / 28.6527°S 153.5482°E