PACIFIC HIGHWAY
Section: Cooperabung Range/Kundabung


Looking south across Barries Creek. Aug 2004.

Extending from the northern terminus of the Telegraph Point Deviation (at Cooperabung Drive approximately 500m north of Rollands Plains Rd ) to the southern boundary of the Maria River State Forest , this section involves 19km of single carriageway with overtaking lanes along most of its length. A large portion of the highway in this section is located on large fills or in large cuttings as it passes through extremely hilly terrain with a number of watercourses to cross - the southern section is known as the Cooperabung Range . This section has been the subject a complete realignment during the 1970s and 80s - the original alignment of the highway was characterized by narrow pavement, steep grades and sharp curves with very few overtaking opportunities.

Between 500m north of Rollands Plains Rd and the junction with Cooperabung Drive , a distance of 6km the original alignment of the Pacific Highway is now known as Cooperabung Drive and remains trafficable on the western side of the current highway. The current alignment, built with much improved grades and curves, eliminated a narrow, hilly and winding section in 1975. It was an immediate northern extension of the Telegraph Point Deviation, which is located immediately to the south.

Between Cooperabung Drive and Mingaletta Rd , the original highway alignment remains on the eastern side of the current alignment. It can be accessed from Yarrabee Rd , although the section north of Yarrabee Rd has been closed to traffic to allow for the “Mt Cooperabung Hillclimb” project from Kempsey Sporting Car Club.

The current alignment is known as the Cooperabung Range Deviation and was commenced in 1974, opening to traffic in 1978.

From Mingaletta Rd north to Smiths Creek, 22km to 17km south of Kempsey, the realignment of the highway was completed in 1974. The original route of the highway is now a local road known as "Old Pacific Hwy" on the western side of the current highway, south from Upper Smiths Creek Rd.

North of Smiths Creek, as far as Smiths Rd, realignment of the highway to its current alignment was completed in 1985/86. The deviation replaced a section of highway characterised by narrow pavement and poor alignment. Two remnants of the old highway - Rodeo Drive and Ravenswood Road - remain as local access roads on the western side of the current highway.

From Smiths Rd, north to the southern end of the dual carriageways at Maria River, the highway is located on a deviation which was completed in September 1987. This particular deviation was constructed in conjunction with the Maria River dual carriageways as a reaction to two horrific bus crashes that occurred on this stretch of road in the mid-1980s. The original route of the highway is now known as Middle Gate Rd and Old Coast Rd.

This section of the highway falls under the scope of the Oxley Highway to Kempsey Upgrade project which is currently in the route development stage. No preferred route or construction timetable has been released as yet, however I expect the highway will be duplicated largely along its current alignment which will mean some heavy earthworks.

Current Route of Pacific Highway
Looking south across Cooperabung Creek. Aug 2004.
Looking north to Cooperabung Drive (old Pacific Hwy). You can just make out on the right of the highway another section of the old Pacific Hwy that no longer joins the current alignment. There was formerly an at-grade junction but it was closed off in recent years. Aug 2004.
Looking north to Cooperabung Drive (old Pacific Hwy). You can just make out on the right of the highway another section of the old Pacific Hwy that no longer joins the current alignment. There was formerly an at-grade junction but it was closed off in recent years. Nov 2005.
Looking south to Yarrabee Rd, which was extended west from its original terminus at the old alignment of the highway to meet the current route. Nov 2005.
Looking south through the Cooperabung Range. Note the relatively flat and straight alignment, compared to old narrow and winding route. Nov 2005.
Looking south near Upper Smiths Creek Rd. Nov 2005.
Looking north across Smiths Creek. Note the long line of traffic travelling south - fortunately overtaking lanes are plentiful along what is colloquially known as the Kundabung Straight. Nov 2005.
Typical rural fingerboard signage at Smiths Creek Rd. Nov 2005.
Southbound approaching Smiths Creek Rd at Kundabung. Note the old style service signage for Smiths Creek Rd. Nov 2005.
Looking south, south of Ravenswood Rd. Nov 2005.
Looking north towards Ravenswood Rd. Nov 2005.
Bloodwood Ridge Rest Area, opened late 2004, between Ravenswood Rd and the Maria River. Nov 2005.
Winding, heavily forested section south of Maria River. Nov 2005.
Old section of Pacific Hwy (Cooperabung Dr, Old Pacific Hwy, Rodeo Dr & Ravenswood Rd)
Looking south along Cooperabung Drive. The semi-cleared area on the left is where the Telegraph Point deviation rejoined the original route of the Pacific Highway during 1974 and 1975 until the next section of realigned highway was completed. Nov 2005.
Another southbound view of Cooperabung Dr. The warning sign pretty much sums up this road. Nov 2005.
Causeway across Cooperabung Creek on Cooperabung Drive. Nov 2005.
Remnant yellow line markings on Old Pacific Hwy south of Yarrabee Rd. Nov 2005.
Old Pacific Hwy looking south from Yarrabee Rd. Nov 2005.
Old Pacific Hwy north of Yarrabee Rd. As you can see it has been closed off to allow for motor sport to take place. Nov 2005.
Old Pacific Hwy looking south from Upper Smiths Creek Rd. Nov 2005.
Council blade sign for Old Pacific Hwy at Upper Smiths Creek Rd. Nov 2005.
Looking south on Rodeo Dr. It just ends here just before Smiths Creek - there are no remains of the old bridge. Nov 2005.
Rodeo Drive looking south from Smiths Creek Rd, showing yellow line-marking. Nov 2005.
Rodeo Drive looking north towards Smiths Ck Rd. Nov 2005.
View of the Ravenswood Rd section of the original route of the highway from the current alignment. Nov 2005.

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