PACIFIC HIGHWAY
Section: South Grafton to Swan Creek
Looking north between Centenary Drive and Swan Creek. Nov 2005.
This 5km section of the Pacific Highway stretches from Alipou Creek at South Grafton to the southern end of the Swan Creek deviation, near Finlaysons Road . It is currently single carriageway with a bitumen surface and will be bypassed when the Wells Crossing-Iluka upgrade project is completed.
This section was part of the original gazetted alignment of State Highway No. 10, as of 7 August 1928 . Almost immediately the Main Roads Board began improvements to this section of the road, which was heavily used to serve growing communities along the Clarence River . It was decided to surface the highway in cement concrete, a material that would provide more stability in the pavement despite the threat of flooding from the Clarence River . Construction commenced in 1929 as unemployment relief work, but it was ten years before the highway between South Grafton and Ulmarra was provided with a cement concrete surface. This programme also expanded north to the Ulmarra Shire boundary near Tyndale during the period 1929-1939.
For many years the Pacific Highway retained its original width and surface along this section, with the exception of some shoulder widening. Work commenced in 1986 on a deviation from Alipou Creek to Swan Creek, which replaced the existing narrow, undulating and deteriorating concrete pavement with an improved alignment and wider formation. The deviation was completed in April 1989.
As part of the Pacific Highway Upgrading Programme, planning commenced for the section of highway between Wells Crossing and Iluka Road in November 2004. The western-most route option would see the current highway alignment bypassed along what is now Four Mile Lane, rejoining the existing highway at the northern end of the Swan Creek Deviation. A decision on a preferred alignment is expected during December 2005.
 |
Looking north at the intersection with Duncans Lane. The old alignment of the highway can be seen just east of the current alignment, fronting the service station. Nov 2005. |
 |
Had to include this one because it is one of the extremely rare remaining black signs on the Pacific Hwy - at the intersection with Duncans Lane. Nov 2005. |
 |
Looking north, north of Duncans Lane. Nov 2005. |
 |
Looking north at McPhee St. Note the service road on the eastern side of the highway which was once the main carriageway. Nov 2005. |