Drive to Aboriginal songlines on the Pacific Highway

Published

Aboriginal artworks have been installed at nine overpass bridges spanning four lanes on the new Pacific Motorway between Woolgoolga and Ballina on the north coast of New South Wales.
 
The new artworks along the Woolgoolga to Ballina Aboriginal Art Trail depict the creation stories and ancient travel routes (Songlines) of the Aboriginal nations of the region.
 
The Australian and NSW governments funded the $4.9 billion Woolgoolga to Ballina upgrade to provide 155 kilometres of safer, four-lane divided road.
 
The Woolgoolga to Ballina Aboriginal Art Trail is part of the Pacific Highway upgrade project which also included upgrading nine interchanges, more than 170 bridges and more than 350 other connecting roads.
 
The upgrade opened to traffic in 2020 and reduces the distance between Woolgoolga and Ballina by 13 kilometres and saves motorists about 25 minutes in travel time.
 
Transport for NSW is planning a community event involving all the artists and their communities, to be held in the coming months.
 
For more information visit www.pacifichighway.nsw.gov.au/drive-songlines.

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