North Orange Bypass

The final stage of the Bypass road around Orange's northern outskirts is now completed.

A Community Day was held on Sunday 12 August, while the Official Opening was held Friday 17 August.

This page outlines the major milestones of the project worth $17 million.

TIME-LINE 

The final stage of the bypass happened in two stages.

The first stage of the North Orange Bypass is from Astill Drive to Ophir Road.  This road extended from what was then the end of the  Northern Distributor Road at the Narrambla industrial estate to the Mitchell Highway at Chinamans Bend.  The project’s Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) was approved by Orange City Council on 17 December 2009. 

The 2nd stage is from Ophir Road to the Mitchell Highway near Chinamans Bend.

The City Council signed a contract with JK Williams for this stage.

  Map of North Orange Bypass route [360KB] 

 EIS Contents and Summary [872KB]

Stage 1 (Astill Drive to Ophir Road)

May 2011

The bulk earthworks tender for Stage 1 was awarded to Hamcon Civil. Hamcon began work on 26 July 2011 but work was delayed due to adverse weather conditions and additional work.  The bulk earthworks stage of the work was completed.

	Construction of Stage 1 May 2011

Stage 2 (Ophir Road to Mitchell Highway)

Stage 2 section of the North Orange Bypass was federally funded and required the City Council to obtain OH&S accreditation from the Federal Safety Commissioner.  This accreditation was received. Orange City Council was the first Local Government Authority in Australia to gain Federal OH&S accreditation.

The accreditation allows Orange Council to take on large scale federally-funded projects including the North Orange Bypass. At the time, Orange City Council joined a group of only 220 organisations around the country with this certification.

Stage 2 construction - August 2011

 Media Release - Council OH&S has Federal Standing [28KB]

By the end of June, 2012 works on the North Orange Bypass Road was being finalised. The main civil works, guardrail and sealing were nearing completion, with line marking, lighting and guide posts still to be be installed.  

During June work was progressing near the intersection with the Mitchell Highway.  

View of sealed section of the Bypass that runs between Icely Road and Ophir Road

Partially sealed road and further roadwork on the Bypass where it meets the Mitchell Highway

By the end of July, the mail civil works and guardrails had been completed with only sealing of the intersection with bthe highway still to be finished along with line-marking.