Pacific Highway at Wyong upgrade secured for delivery by mid-2027

Thirteen years of campaigning and the green light has finally been given to the upgrade of the Pacific Highway from Tuggerah to Wyong.

The $420 million upgrade – $336M Federal funds and $84M State funds – will deliver two lanes in each direction between Johnson Road at Tuggerah and Cutler Drive at Wyong.

Wyong River road bridge will be replaced with two road bridges, and Wyong train station will be upgraded.

The upgrade, that will begin in mid-2024 with completion expected in mid-2027, will allow for a seamless rail interchange with bus services, taxi services, plus disabled and short-term parking.

A commuter carpark will go next to Wyong Racecourse on land already owned by Transport For NSW and the Rose Street rail bridge will be replaced.

New signalised intersections will be built at Rose Street, Anzac Avenue, North Road and Cutler Drive.

The Pacific Highway through Wyong has been the subject of community dissatisfaction for at least 15 years.

The most well-known campaign, led by the likes of local company Wideline Windows and Wyong Regional Chamber of Commerce was “Gladys Fix This Road” aimed at Gladys Berejiklian when she was State Premier.

Matthew J Lusted, President of Business Wyong, said thanks must go to many in the local community, including the Chamber of Commerce, for their tireless work over many years to get the project happening.

“Business Wyong will be meeting with Transport for NSW and Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast Adam Crouch tomorrow (March 25).

“We will seek assurance that the NSW Government is ready to fund the remaining 20% so that preliminary work can begin as soon as possible,” Lusted said.

Both Member for Dobell Emma McBride and State Member for Wyong, David Harris made it an election promise in the 2015 and 2018 elections.

Member for Wyong David Harris explained planning for the upgrade started in 2009 under a Labour State government.

“This will be a game changer for Wyong and Northern Central Coast and to have funding confirmed is a victory for the community, the Wyong Regional Chamber of Commerce and many people thought they would never see it happen.

McBride said that after years of campaigning to fix the road through Wyong, Central Coast residents finally have the news they’ve been waiting to hear.

“The Federal Government has now caved to pressure and agreed to upgrade the Pacific Highway at Wyong after almost a decade in power and on the eve of a federal election,” she said.

Reports suggest that $40M has already been spent on the purchase of land to make the project viable with several millions more invested in developing the plans for the road and upgrades.

The corridor for the road upgrade already exists and no domestic properties will undergo demolition in the process of the build.

The Highway upgrade has been part of a Central Coast Council plan since approximately 2006.

Allowing for better connection to the ‘North Wyong Growth Corridor,’ the upgrade will give rise to the opportunity for high-density properties.

Detailed plans will soon be made available by Transport for NSW.

Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts Paul Fletcher said the major upgrade would support the growth of the Northern Central Coast.

“With the region expected to grow by 75,000 residents over the next 20 years with most of this growth forecast to occur immediately north of Wyong, the Morrison-Joyce Government is committed to helping improve road infrastructure now to support commuters and residents into the future,” he said.

Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast, Adam Crouch, said the funding builds on the planning and acquisition works already done by the NSW Government in preparation for the project

“I have been lobbying the Deputy Premier, Paul Toole and Minister for Regional Roads, Sam Farraway for the $84 million dollars in additional funding required from the State to make this project a reality,” Crouch said.

“This work will provide jobs and opportunities for so many Central Coast locals while, at the same time, delivering a fantastic road upgrade for those who use it every single day.”

Nicola Riches