This page covers the section of Pacific Highway from north of Balickera Channel to Twelve Mile Creek - approximately 12 to 17km north of Raymond Terrace.

1930s - Early Work

Reconstruction and surfacing of the section of Pacific Highway between Raymond Terrace and Limeburners Creek was undertaken progressively by the MRB and DMR between 1929 and 1935.^[1] This work generally followed the alignment of the existing unsealed road and was not constructed to any consistent speed standard.^[2]

As part of the reconstruction works, a two-span reinforced concrete bridge over Nine Mile Creek was commenced in 1935^[3] and completed in 1936.^[4] The approaches formed an approximately 200m long deviation from the existing highway and eliminated a section which was often flooded after heavy rain. The old structure was a worn-out timber beam bridge on a poor alignment, with a right-angle bend at the northern end of the bridge.^[5]

1970s - Constructing the 'Motorway'

With a better alignment than sections further south, and many higher priority major construction and bridge works further north, this section gained little attention until well after World War 2. With the completion of major bridge works in the 1960s, the DMR was able to turn its attention to the reconstruction and realignment of older sections of highway which had deteriorated and quickly become inadequate for the rapid increase in traffic.

Reconstruction northwards from Raymond Terrace commenced in 1967, prompted by the Hunter District Water Board's development of Grahamstown Dam which would inundate a section of the existing highway. Following completion of the deviation to avoid the dam, planning commenced for the complete reconstruction and realignment northwards to Twelve Mile Creek, to bring this section up to modern standards. By this time, the DMR was well versed in the problems of ribbon development which plagued many of its major highways. Therefore, this section of the highway was planned as a Motorway^[6] with an 80ft (24m) reservation^[7], 24ft (7.3m) wide pavement^[8] and with access limited to specific points as determined by the DMR.

Construction commenced in 1973/74^[9] and was completed by September 1975 at a total cost of $1,244,000.^[10]

The old highway, except for the section providing property access between Nine Mile Creek and the old rest area, was proposed to be closed and transferred to the Forestry Commission.^[11] However, I am not sure that this ever eventuated. Certainly the pavement remains and the route is trafficable.

1990s - Duplication

As part of the Pacific Highway Upgrading Program, launched in 1996, the highway was duplicated for 18km between Rees James Road, north of Raymond Terrace, and Swan Bay Road, south of Karuah, including this section. Work commenced in August 1998 and was opened to traffic on 1 December 2000.^[12] As part of the work, a new northbound carriageway was constructed to the west of the existing highway, which was reconstructed in cement concrete to form the new southbound carriageway. Construction of a northbound rest area and heavy vehicle inspection bay near Twelve Mile Creek obliterated a section of the old highway bypassed in the 1970s.

References:

[1] See Main Roads Board, Annual Report 1930, p. 49 and 'From the Divisions' in Main Roads, Vol 6 No 3, May 1935, p. 28-29
[2]'Tenders and Quotations Accepted' in Main Roads, Vol. 6 No. 3, May 1935, p. 78
[3] Sydney Morning Herald, 1 May 1936, p. 7
[4] Department of Main Roads, Annual Report 1935, p. 44
[5] Extract from Divisional Engineer's minute, dated 3 June 1948 in DMR File 10/362.114, SRNSW
[6]'Motorway' in the meaning of Part 5A of the Main Roads (Amendment) Act 1945, i.e. essentially a 'controlled access road'
[7] Memo from Divisional Engineer, Newcastle, to Engineer-in-Chief, dated 1 December 1972 in DMR File 362.1184, RTAA
[8] Department of Main Roads, Supplement to Annual Report 1974, p. 17
[9] Department of Main Roads, Annual Report 1974, p. 14
[10] 'Newcastle and the Hunter Valley Division: Main Roads Progress' in Main Roads, Vol. 41 No. 1, September 1975, p.24
[11] Memo from Divisional Engineer, Newcastle, to Engineer-in-Chief, dated 8 March 1973 in DMR File 362.1184, RTAA
[12] Roads and Traffic Authority, Pacific Highway Upgrade Project Fact Sheet: Raymond Terrace to Karuah Upgrade, undated

• Photos - old alignment
• Photos - current alignment

Old alignment - Balickera Channel to Twelve Mile Creek

The photos of the old highway alignment are divided into three sections.

Nine Mile Creek Road
	Looking south at the southern end of the old alignment where the pavement disappears. The current highways runs behind the line of trees on the left. Photo taken: January 2007.
	Looking north from the southern end of the old alignment towards the location of the previous photo. Photo taken: November 2008.
	Looking north to the old bridge over Nine Mile Creek, constructed in 1936. Photo taken: November 2008.
	Looking south from Nine Mile Creek. Note the faint remains of a yellow centreline. Photo taken: November 2008.
	Looking north across Nine Mile Creek. Photo taken: November 2008.
	Close-up of the parapet showing where the bridge plate would once have been. Note the large crack - I didn't check to see if it was ready to fully snap off. Photo taken: November 2008.
	Side-on view of the bridge over Nine Mile Creek - a typical reinforced concrete slab bridge constructed by the DMR during the 1930s. Photo taken: November 2008.
	Looking north from Nine Mile Creek. Photo taken: November 2008.
	Looking south approximately 350m north of Nine Mile Creek, showing a small subdivision adjacent to the old highway. The road on the left is one of the few access points to the new alignment. Photo taken: November 2008.
	Looking north from the same spot. Prior to the highway being deviated, there was a service station located on the left at this location, just beyond the first telegraph pole. Photo taken: November 2008.
	Looking south approximately 1km north of Nine Mile Creek with very visible double yellow centre lines. This is a typical view of the standard of the Pacific Highway in the mid-1970s - no shoulders and numerous dips and curves. Photo taken: November 2008.
	Another view from nearly the same spot in better light. Source: Peter Renshaw, June 2012.
	Looking south from near the old rest area. Photo taken: November 2008.
	Looking north to the curve near the present Medowie Road. The semi-cleared area to the left is the remains of an old rest area, I believe developed by the Forestry Department and made obsolete by the newer rest areas on the current highway alignment. Photo taken: November 2008.
	What's left of the old rest area - not much other than what looks like a water tank. Photo taken: November 2008.
	An abandoned connection between the old and new alignments just past the old rest area (chainage 9M935' from Raymond Terrace) which was closed during the duplication works on the new alignment. Photo taken: November 2008.
	Looking south towards the rest area, showing the abandoned connection to the new alignment on the left. Source: Peter Renshaw, June 2012.
	Another view south towards the old rest area, showing the old double yellow centre lines. Photo taken: November 2008.
	A northerly view from the same spot, showing the old alignment curving to run alongside the new alignment, approximately 500m north of Medowie Road. Photo taken: November 2008.
	Looking north alongside the current alignment, 600m north of Medowie Road. Photo taken: November 2008.
	Another northerly view alongside the current alignment, approaching a crest ajdacent to the present northbound rest area. Note the remains of the old centre line - a short length where southbound traffic was permitted to overtake. Photo taken: November 2008.
	The end of the line - looking north to where the remnant pavement disappears at a State Forest access track. The old alignment continued straight from this point, however it has been ripped up and revegetated. Note the glimpse of the northbound rest area in the bushes to the right. Photo taken: November 2008.
Twelve Mile Creek Road
	Small section of remnant pavement at the southern end of Twelve Mile Creek Road. This section appears to have had the pavement removed and replaced with a gravel surface. Photo taken: November 2008.
	Looking north along the short section of Twelve Mile Creek Road which was part of the old highway alignment. The old alignment continued to curve to the right whilst the current Twelve Mile Creek Road continues straight. It was a purpose-built service road constructed as part of the realignment project to serve a recent subdivision. Photo taken: November 2008.
Twelve Mile Creek rest area
	Looking south along the current highway alignment, showing the southbound rest area which was built over the old alignment. Photo taken: November 2008.

Current alignment - Balickera Channel to Twelve Mile Creek

The current alignment of the highway, initially constructed in 1973-1975, was completely rebuilt in cement concrete during the duplication works of 1998-2000 and now forms the southbound carriageway.

	Looking north towards the twin bridges over Balickera Channel. Photo taken: December 2007.
	Looking north across Nine Mile Creek. The crossing is now made by way of box culverts and it would not be noticeable if it weren't for the sign. Photo taken: December 2007.
	Looking north as you approaching Medowie Road. Photo taken: January 2007.
	Looking north towards the northbound rest area between Medowie Road and Twelve Mile Creek. Photo taken: July 2006.
	Looking north at Twelve Mile Creek Road with the AD sign for Bucketts Way in the background. Photo taken: July 2006.