Raymond Terrace to Karuah duplication : review of environmental factors : main report : volume 1

The Pacific Highway is one of the most important highways in NSW. It connects Sydney to Brisbane and provides interstate and regional connections to the Central, Mid North and North Coasts of NSW. The Pacific Highway has a poor safety record; many sections are single carriageway. To improve conditions the Roads and Traffic Authority of NSW proposes to upgrade the section of the Pacific Highway between Rangers Road in the south and Reedy Creek in the north. This section of the Pacific Highway is located about 30 to 50 kilometres north of Newcastle, NSW. This volume examines: planning strategies that have led to the decision to propose the Raymond Terrace to Karuah (RT-K) Duplication; a concept design; a description of the RT-K duplication and its locality; environmental interactions that could occur as a result of the RT-K duplication and safeguards to protect the environment. The proposed activity is referred to as the Raymond terrace to Karuah duplication (RT-K Duplication). It would provide a safer and less-congested travelling environment by separating traffic flows and providing two travelling lanes for each carriageway.