Welcome to the Tintenbar to Ewingsdale upgrade website.

The NSW Minister for Planning approved the Pacific Highway Tintenbar to Ewingsdale upgrade on 29 January 2010. The Chief Executive of the NSW Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) subsequently agreed to proceed with the construction and operation of the project subject to the conditions set by the Minister for Planning, the RTA's project priorities for upgrading the Pacific Highway and available funding.

Copies of the planning approval documents, including the Environmental Assessment Submissions and Preferred Project Report are available on the project website www.rta.nsw.gov.au/pacific or a copy can be sent to you by contacting the project information line on 1800 882 787 (toll free).

• RTA Pacific Highway Office, 21 Prince Street, Grafton
  (Mon-Fri, 8.30am-4.30pm).
• Ballina Motor Registry, Ballina West Shopping Centre, Ballina
  (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm).
• Lismore Motor Registry, Carrington Street, Lismore (Mon-Fri, 8.30am-5pm and Sat 8.30am-12 noon).
• Ballina Shire Council, corner of Cherry and Tamar streets, Ballina
  (Mon-Fri, 9am-4pm).
• Byron Shire Council, 70-90 Station Street, Mullumbimby
  (Mon-Fri, 8.30am-4.30pm).
• RTA Head Office, Level 9, 101 Miller Street, North Sydney
  (Mon-Fri, 8.30am-5pm).
• NSW Department of Planning Information Centre, 23-33 Bridge Street Sydney
  (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm).
• Nature Conservation Council of NSW, Level 2, 301 Kent Street, Sydney
  (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm).

The planning approval may also be viewed on the Department of Planning's website (www.planning.nsw.gov.au).

The RTA will now start preconstruction activities to prepare the project for the construction phase. These will include field investigations, property acquisitions and the start of the tender process.

The Tintenbar to Ewingsdale upgrade will be about 17km long. It will start at the northern end of the Ballina bypass at Ross Lane and extend to the existing dual carriageway at Ewingsdale.

The Tintenbar to Ewingsdale environmental assessment and refined concept design were on display for community comment until 31 October 2008. In response to the submissions received on the environmental assessment, the RTA prepared a submissions report and preferred project report (May 2009).

In August 2008 the Minister for Roads asked the NSW RTA to undertake preliminary investigations into the costs of a southern bypass of Bangalow and what benefits this new road would create.

The RTA, with the assistance of Arup, prepared a discussion paper on the investigations (June 2009) inviting comment on the investigations of the southern bypass option.

A decision report on the investigations and the feedback received is now available.

This website provides information on the planning approval, proposed design of the upgrade, its environmental assessment and the main steps in the construction process.